CHICAGO — Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss emerged victorious in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, aiming to succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky. This result represents a setback for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), as the race became a focal point for evaluating the group’s influence within the party.
Biss, who has Israeli heritage and Holocaust survivors in his family, openly criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza. This stance led to a barrage of attack ads from an AIPAC-aligned group.
Biss triumphed over a diverse group of candidates that included social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh, a Palestinian American who is also a strong critic, and state Sen. Laura Fine, AIPAC’s preferred choice. Biss is now the frontrunner for the general election in this predominantly Democratic district.
This primary attracted national attention, largely due to AIPAC’s involvement in a district with a Jewish population exceeding 10 percent, which has historically elected Jewish representatives for over six decades.
An AIPAC-affiliated group invested over $5 million in advertising to support Fine and attack Biss, later extending these efforts to Abughazaleh. As the race concluded, they ceased their anti-Biss ads, while a different PAC attempted to split the progressive vote by supporting another low-polling candidate.
Biss received backing from J Street, a more liberal pro-Israel organization, and publicly decried AIPAC’s interference in Democratic primaries.
Previously a University of Chicago math professor, Biss also served in both the Illinois House and Senate. He ran in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary against current Gov. JB Pritzker.
Schakowsky, a 14-term incumbent who announced her retirement last year, endorsed Biss in January, commending his legislative experience and shared priorities, particularly regarding Israel. Her endorsement, along with his strong local ties, enabled Biss to withstand the competitive field and negative campaign tactics.
During his campaign, Biss advocated for increased federal funding for affordable housing, the expansion of Social Security benefits, and a ban on stock trading by Congress members. He gained national attention for confronting federal immigration enforcement agents at a local gas station and participating in anti-ICE protests.
