Illinois Democrat Jan Schakowsky to Retire After 28 Years in the U.S. House

The retirement comes ahead of the Congresswoman's 81st birthday later this month.

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, a Democrat, has officially confirmed today she will not run for re-election in 2026. She becomes the tenth retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives this cycle, the fifth Democrat to do so, and the second leaving without running for another office.

Schakowsky, 80, has served Illinois’ 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 1999. The district covers parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties. Based in northern Chicago, it also takes in Evanston, Arlington Heights, Skokie, Des Plaines, and Mount Prospect.

Previously, Schakowsky was Program Director of Illinois Public Action from 1976 to 1985 and Executive Director of the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens from 1985 to 1990. In 1986, she was one of the Democratic nominees for at-large seats on the Cook County Board of Commissioners but lost in the general election. She later served in the Illinois House of Representatives - holding District 4 from January 1991 to January 1993 and District 8 from January 1993 to December 1998.

In 1998, Schakowsky entered the Democratic primary to succeed U.S. Representative Sidney R. Yates in the 9th District when he opted to retire after nearly 50 years in office. She prevailed 45.1-34.4-20.5 against State Senator Howard Carroll and future Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. In the general election, she won 74.6-23.1 against Republican Herbert Son. She ultimately served for 14 terms in this office. She has never been seriously challenged in the Democratic primary for re-nomination. Since January 2019, she has also been the Senior Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus.

For the 119th Congress, Schakowsky serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Furthermore, she is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce. She now becomes the second member departing the Energy and Commerce panel - following Republican John James of Michigan.

Before Schakowsky’s retirement, she was being challenged in the Democratic primary by social media content creator Kat Abughazaleh. The winner of the primary will likely become the next U.S. Representative for the 9th District. Skokie Board of Education Member Bushra Amiwala, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, and State Senator Laura Fine are seen as potential candidates who deferred to Schakowsky before talking about their plans. In the Republican primary, 2024 nominee Seth Cohen and educational paraprofessional Rocío Cleveland are running.

Notably, Illinois could see several competitive primaries for the U.S. House this cycle. Several of Schakowsky’s colleagues in the lower congressional chamber are eyeing the race to succeed Dick Durbin in the U.S. Senate.

Under the current lines, Democrat Kamala Harris won Illinois’ 9th Congressional District with a 67.7-31.2 finish against Republican Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. That came as Harris was carrying the state 54.4-43.5 in her ultimately unsuccessful national campaign. On the same ballot, Schakowsky was re-elected with a 68.4-31.6 victory against Cohen for her final term in office.