Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin lost a crowded Democratic primary for a U.S. House seat despite over $5 million in spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and support from teachers’ unions and the cryptocurrency industry. State Representative LaShawn Ford won the 13-candidate contest for the predominantly Democratic district.
Primary Victory for State Rep. LaShawn Ford
Ford secured the Democratic nomination after facing aggressive attack ads funded by the cryptocurrency sector. He highlighted an endorsement by outgoing Representative Danny Davis, who represented the district—which includes parts of Chicago’s South Side and western suburbs—for nearly 30 years. Ford will face a GOP candidate in the general election but holds a strong advantage in this heavily Democratic district, where Democratic presidential candidates have previously received more than 80% of the vote.
Conyears-Ervin’s Campaign and Controversies
Conyears-Ervin served as Chicago’s city treasurer since 2019 and had previously lost a primary challenge to Davis in 2024 amid allegations of misusing city funds and retaliation against whistleblowers. She paid a $30,000 fine in 2025 to settle ethics charges. Despite backing from AIPAC and unions, her campaign failed to overcome these issues and the competitive primary field.
AIPAC’s Mixed Results in 2026 Primaries
This loss represents a setback for AIPAC, which has invested heavily in Democratic primaries nationwide. Earlier in 2026, AIPAC helped defeat former Representative Tom Malinowski in a New Jersey special election, although the victorious candidate, Analilia Mejia, holds more critical views toward Israel. AIPAC’s involvement remains significant but has yielded varying results in shaping Democratic nominations.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.
