The Illinois 9th congressional district, anchored in northern Chicago and North Shore suburbs including Evanston and Skokie, features a long-standing Democratic advantage rooted in voter registration and past election margins. Longtime incumbent Jan Schakowsky’s retirement opened the seat, but Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss secured the Democratic nomination in the March 2026 primary with roughly 29 percent of the vote against a crowded field. Republican nominee John Elleson faces limited resources and visibility in the solidly blue territory, where forecasters rate the race as Safe or Solid Democratic. Trader consensus at 93.5 percent Democratic reflects the district’s structural lean and absence of competitive general-election dynamics. Late developments such as a major scandal, health issue, or national wave shifting turnout could still alter the outcome before November.