AIPAC-backed Chicago Democrat loses primary despite outside spending blitz

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin lost the Democratic primary for Rep. Danny Davis' House seat after AIPAC spent over $4 million supporting her campaign.

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Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin failed to defeat a crowded field of Democratic candidates Tuesday for a deep-blue House seat, despite the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spending aggressively to put her over the top.
Conyears-Ervin's loss represents a notable defeat for the pro-Israel group, which frequently intervenes in Democratic primaries.
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Ill., won the 13-way primary ballot after weathering a torrent of attack ads powered by the cryptocurrency industry. Ford touted the endorsement of Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill, who represented the district incorporating parts of the city’s South Side and western suburbs for nearly three decades.
AIPAC and its affiliates spent more than $5 million boosting Conyears-Ervin. The Chicago Democrat also had the support of the city’s influential teachers’ unions and the cryptocurrency industry.
Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin was backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). (Getty Images)

Ford's GOP opponent will face a steep battle to win the general election in the Democrat-heavy district. In 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris won more than 80% of the vote in the district, where Black Americans constitute a plurality.
Conyears-Ervin previously came up short in a primary challenge against Davis in 2024, though her campaign was marred by allegations that she misused city funds for personal use and retaliated against whistleblowers. The Chicago Democrat paid a $30,000 fine in 2025 to resolve the charges brought by a city ethics panel.
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Eleven other Democratic candidates were on the ballot in a free-for-all contest to replace Davis.
Jason Friedman, a real estate developer and philanthropist, also failed to receive a sizable share of votes despite outraising the field. AIPAC's main super PAC spent tens of thousands of dollars attacking his candidacy.
Progressive activist Kina Collins and several other left-wing candidates appeared to split the vote from the party's leftward flank.
Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., passed on running for re-election after representing a 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 2026 primaries so far.
In February, the group was successful in torpedoing former Rep. Tom Malinowski’s comeback bid in a New Jersey special election, but a Democrat with even more hostile views toward Israel narrowly won the primary. That candidate, Analilia Mejia, who is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is on track to win the general election in April in the Democratic-held seat.
The group also spent heavily against several Illinois Democrats running in other primary contests who have views critical of Israel, including media personality Kat Abughazaleh.
Analilia Mejia secured the Democratic Party nomination in a special election to find out who will take over newly elected New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill's vacant House seat. (Heather Khalifa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Conyears-Ervin has served as Chicago’s city treasurer since 2019 and previously did a one-term stint in the state legislature.
Chicago has faced an array of fiscal challenges during Conyears-Ervin’s tenure. Two rating agencies downgraded Chicago’s credit rating in February over the city’s sizable budget deficits.