One of the largest legislative offices on the ticket this election is that of the United States House of Representatives’ 7th District — a congressional seat that represents much of Chicago’s West Side, plus suburban Oak Park and Forest Park.
Incumbent Danny Davis and Chad Koppie will both be on the ballot for the position that is a two-year term.
In the March primary, Davis walked away with more than 52% of the Democratic vote, or more than 42,240 votes cast, according to Ballotpedia. Koppie, the lone Republican contender, garnered more than 5,600 votes in the heavily Democratic area.
Here’s what to know about the candidates. Neither responded to interview requests by time of publication.
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, incumbent, Democrat
Davis has been a representative for the 7th District since 1997. He is the 24th longest- standing member of Congress, having sponsored nearly 7,000 bills and voted over 16,000 times in Congress.
Over his tenure, Davis has become known as a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform, health care, education, women’s and LGBTQ rights.
He serves on several Caucasus, including the Congressional Black Caucus, Community Health Center’s Caucus, Equity Caucus, Progressive Caucus, and the Urban Caucus.
Davis also co-chair of the Caucus on Re-entry and signed the Second Chance Act during the Obama administration, which provided over $1.2 billion to help to ex-offenders trying to re-enter public life. Davis’ work on criminal justice reform also includes efforts to remove federal student aid limitations for those with felony drug convictions.
When it comes to education, Davis has led efforts to disaggregate education data to reveal disparities in the education of Black students. He’s also fought to protect educational opportunities for students with disabilities and those who are homeless or foster youth.
Davis is also a proponent of strengthening families, nationally and locally. He led the creation of the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, which funded $5.2 billion nationally and $119 million in Illinois to improve family safety, along with the health of mothers and children. He also helped increase funding for the first time in 15 years to $3.55 billion for national guaranteed child care.
Davis consistently bring money to organizations in his district. Among others, these include Ashunti Residential Management Systems in Austin, which offers supportive housing for those who were formerly homeless; Bethel New Life in Austin, a nonprofit with a community wellness hub; Mount Sinai Hospital in Douglass Park for an expansion of its ICU.
Davis’ local efforts expand past helping with funding and grants. In February, he helped push for the home of Percy Julian, an Oak Park scientist, to become a national historic site.
Over the last year, Davis was reappointed to the Committee on Ways and Means. He’s also the Subcommittee Ranking Member of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee. In 2021, the subcommittee reduced U.S. child poverty by 50%, according to Davis.
Before becoming a member of Congress, Davis was an educator and community organizer. He also served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners and was alderman of the 29th Ward.
Chad Koppie, Republican
Chad Koppie is an Army veteran, retired Delta Airlines jet captain, and has been a farmer his whole life. Koppie has served on the Kane County Regional Board of Schools since 2007 and as the board’s president. He was a Rutland Township trustee from 1983 to 1987, then a member of the District 300 School Board from 1987 to 1991. Koppie has run for the U.S. Senate multiple times — in 1992 for the Conservative Party of Illinois, in 1996 for the U.S. Taxpayers Party, and in 2008 for the Constitution Party.
Koppie’s website lays out his views on certain issues:
- On the budget and economy, Koppie said he promises to fight for legislation that cuts all government spending, from every cabinet and agency, by at least 3% a year until the budget is balanced. He said he’s also for tax cuts and wants to abolish the Federal Reserve.
- Koppie said he is anti-abortion and, if voted into Congress, vows to protect all human life. On his website, he speaks of a bill he wants to pass that would place restrictions on fathers’ driver’s licenses and credit cards — allowing them to only commute to work or medical appointments, and restrict the purchase of alcohol, until they are up-to-date on child support.
- As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, Koppie said he will defend the Second Amendment.
- Koppie said he supports building a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in arresting and deporting “all illegal aliens.”
- Koppie said he supports a ceasefire in Ukraine, largely to increase grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine.
