Melissa Conyears-Ervin [wins/loses] First Illinois House battle supported by AIPAC

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Evrvin failed to beat a crowded field of Democratic candidates on Tuesday for the blue House seat, despite the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spending heavily to put her on top.

Conyears-Ervin’s loss represents a significant defeat for the pro-Israel group, which often intervenes in Democratic primaries.

State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Ill., won a 13-way primary vote after confronting attack ads sponsored by the cryptocurrency industry. Ford suggested the endorsement of Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill, has represented a district that includes parts of the city’s South Side and western suburbs for nearly three decades.

AIPAC and its affiliates spent more than $5 million promoting Conyears-Ervin. The Chicago Democrat has also been backed by the city’s influential teachers unions and the cryptocurrency industry.

Ford’s GOP challenger will face an uphill battle to win the general election in a Democrat-heavy district. In 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris won more than 80% of the vote in the district, where black Americans make up the majority.

Conyears-Ervin previously was unsuccessful in her 2024 primary challenge to Davis, though her campaign was marred by allegations that she misused city funds for personal use and retaliated against the wrongdoers. The Chicago Democrat paid a $30,000 fine in 2025 to settle lawsuits brought by the city’s ethics panel.

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Eleven other Democrats were on the ballot in the free contest to replace Davis.

Jason Friedman, a real estate developer and philanthropist, also failed to get a large share of the vote despite raising the bar. AIPAC super PAC spent tens of thousands of dollars attacking his election.

Progressive activist Kina Collins and other left-wing candidates appeared to split the vote among voters from the left wing of the party.

Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., won re-election after holding the Chicago-based House seat since 1997. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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AIPAC, a frequent player in congressional races, has had mixed success intervening in the 2026 primaries so far.

In February, the team succeeded in to thwart the comeback bid of former Rep. Tom Malinowski in a New Jersey special election, but a Democrat with even more hostile views toward Israel narrowly won the primary. That candidate, Analilia Mejia, endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is in the running to win the general election in April in the seat held by a Democrat.

The party has also spent heavily against other Illinois Democrats running in other primary races with views critical of Israel, including news anchor Kat Abughzaleh.

Analilia Mejia received the nomination of the Democratic Party in a special election to determine who will fill the vacant seat of Gov. New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill. (Heather Khalifa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Conyears-Ervin has served as Chicago city treasurer since 2019 and previously served one term in the state legislature.

Chicago faced many financial challenges during Conyears-Ervin’s tenure. Two rating agencies lowered Chicago’s credit rating in February due to the city’s budget deficit.