CHICAGO (WLS) — An impressive field of 13 Democratic candidates is competing for the chance to succeed retiring Congressman Danny Davis, who has held his seat for three decades.
Among these hopefuls is state Representative LaShawn Ford, who has the backing of Davis himself. However, when Ford arrived at his designated polling station on the West Side on Tuesday morning, he encountered unexpected voting issues.
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According to Ford, the check-in process went smoothly, but complications arose when he inserted his voting card into the electronic machine, which incorrectly indicated he had already cast his vote. The situation took nearly an hour to resolve, with the Board of Elections’ legal team stepping in to address what appeared to be a technical glitch.
Eventually, Ford was able to cast his vote using a paper ballot, after he chose not to accept a provisional ballot.
“I was fortunate to have the flexibility to stay and ensure my vote was counted,” Ford remarked. “But think about those who might have needed to get to work or attend to other responsibilities—they might not have had the luxury to wait for an hour.”
Also in the crowded race is Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who has secured the endorsement of the Chicago Teachers Union.
Community organizer Kina Collins is making her fourth run for the nomination.
Real estate developer Jason Friedman raised $2.5 million, which is the most money in the race and more than triple than his closest competitor.
Anthony Driver, Richard Boykin, and Dr. Thomas Fisher are also among the candidates.
The 7th Congressional District includes parts of downtown, portions of the city’s South and West sides, and parts of the west suburbs.
On the Republican side of the race, Chad Koppie and Patricia Easley are squaring off.
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