Illinois 7th District
Danny Davis (D) is not running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
La Shawn Ford
Democrat · state representative since 2007, Democratic nominee
FLiberty Score F58 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Ford has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Ford.
Raised $819,321 since January 2025: 62% from people, 21% the candidate’s own money, 15% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Chad Koppie
Republican · retired airline pilot, farmer, county school board member
B-Liberty Score B-80 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Koppie has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Koppie.
Raised $60,409 since January 2025: 93% the candidate’s own money, 4% transfers and other income, 4% from people. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Chad Koppie. Chad Koppie: B-, 80 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. La Shawn Ford: F, 58 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Illinois: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
La Shawn Ford, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Ford, so the grade above comes from this list: what Ford has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In the Sun-Times questionnaire he says the US should stay committed to deterrence over Taiwan through diplomacy and strong alliances.
“On Taiwan, the United States should remain firmly committed to peace, stability and deterrence through diplomacy and strong alliances”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing deterrence of Beijing over Taiwan with allies is the with side of this measure.
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In his written answer on foreign policy he says Congress must strengthen NATO and democratic allies.
“strengthen nato and our democratic allies, and emphasize diplomacy to prevent conflicts before they occur.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing NATO is the with side of this measure.
-
His Project 2027 plan promises to oppose federal censorship in public education.
“i will oppose federal censorship, fight to expand funding for public schools, and push back against voucher schemes that drain classrooms.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government censorship is the with side of this measure.
-
In the Sun-Times questionnaire he says the tariff-heavy approach of recent years worked as a hidden tax on consumers.
“The tariff-heavy approach of recent years acted as a hidden tax on consumers without delivering durable gains at home.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is the with side of this measure.
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In the Sun-Times questionnaire his first step on grocery prices is to crack down on corporate price gouging and he names the Price Gouging Prevention Act.
“First, we need to crack down on corporate price gouging and restore competition in the food system.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Backing a federal price gouging law is the against side of this measure (price controls).
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After winning the primary he said the goal is Medicare for all.
“we don't mess up the opportunity to give the people in this country what they need the most and that is medicare for all.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is the against side of this measure.
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He says that as a state representative he worked to reduce the grocery tax and that tax relief for small employers is a priority.
“as a state representative, i fought to make life more affordable, including reducing the grocery tax.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting a named tax is the with side of this measure (the same answer also calls for closing corporate loopholes, which this line does not settle).
-
His Project 2027 plan promises to limit ICE and to oppose federal efforts against communities that shelter immigrants.
“i will work to uphold asylum protections, limit ice overreach, invest in community-based alternatives to detention, and oppose federal efforts to punish compassionate communities.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Limiting ICE and opposing penalties on sanctuary-style communities is the against side of this measure.
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In the Sun-Times questionnaire he says he is deeply concerned about the Operation Midway Blitz immigration enforcement campaign and supports a law that limits enforcement at sensitive locations.
“I also believe federal agencies should not conduct large-scale enforcement operations without coordination with local governments and without clear safeguards.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing large-scale ICE operations is the against side of this measure.
-
In his written answer on immigration he calls for a path to citizenship for longtime residents, dreamers and essential workers.
“reform should include a path to citizenship for longtime residents, dreamers, and essential workers”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is the against side of this measure.
Chad Koppie, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Koppie, so the grade above comes from this list: what Koppie has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
In the 2024 voter guide he answered no when asked if the US should send Ukraine military supplies.
“Should the United States provide Ukraine with aid in the form of military supplies? No”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing aid to Ukraine is the against side of this measure.
-
In the 2024 voter guide he answered yes when asked if the US should send Israel military supplies in its fight against Hamas.
“Should the United States provide Israel with aid in the form of military supplies in its fight against Hamas? Yes”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing weapons for Israel is the with side of this measure.
-
He names a Chinese invasion of Taiwan as the most pressing foreign policy issue.
“The most pressing foreign policy issue is the possibility that China might invade Taiwan.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating a threat to Taiwan from Beijing as the top foreign priority and wanting it deterred is the with side of this measure.
-
In his written answer he says he wants to cut federal spending greatly and use that to cut tax rates.
“I want to greatly cut federal spending. Since the federal government would need less money, the same bill would cut tax rates.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A tax cut with no tax named does not settle the free markets test.
-
Says Congress should end all credits, deductions and exemptions and cut federal income tax rates for all taxpayers.
“the same bill would cut tax rates, for all taxpayers, ensuring that the majority of taxpayers will pay less, in federal income taxes, compared to now.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named cut to federal income tax rates is a lower-taxes position.
-
He says the House should keep defence funding at least at the current level so the navy and marines can deter China near Taiwan.
“The House should ensure that the Dept. of Defense has at least the current funding so that our Navy and Marines can keep sending people, in that area, to deter the Chinese.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Funding the armed forces and not cutting the defence budget is the with side of this measure.
-
In his written answer on immigration he says Congress should pay for a brick wall on the Mexican border.
“Congress should pay for a tall, brick wall, on the Mexican border.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A wall and enforcement are the with side of this measure.
-
His campaign site's immigration page says sanctuary cities break federal law and the Constitution.
“Sanctuary cities not only violate federal laws, but also violate the U.S. Constitution.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing sanctuary policies is the with side of this measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Illinois 7th District
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