Melissa Conyears-Ervin [wins/loses] Illinois House primary battle with AIPAC backing

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Evrvin failed to defeat a crowded field of Democratic candidates for the deep-blue House seat on Tuesday, despite aggressive spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to put her over the top.

Conyears-Ervin’s loss represents a notable defeat for the pro-Israel group that frequently interferes in Democratic primaries.

State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Ill., won the 13-way primary vote after weathering a series of attack ads backed by the cryptocurrency industry. Ford touted the support of Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., who has represented the district covering parts of the city’s South Side and western suburbs for nearly three decades.

AIPAC and its affiliates spent more than $5 million supporting Conyears-Ervin. The Chicago Democrat also has the support of the city’s influential teachers unions and the cryptocurrency industry.

Ford’s GOP opponent will face an uphill battle to win the general election in the Democratic-dominated district. In 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris won more than 80 percent of the vote in the district dominated by Black Americans.

Conyears-Ervin previously unsuccessfully ran in a primary challenge against Davis in 2024, but 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 settle charges brought by the city ethics panel.

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Eleven other Democratic candidates were on the ballot in the all-hands race to replace Davis.

Jason Friedman, a real estate developer and philanthropist, also outpaced the field but failed to gain a significant share of the vote. AIPAC’s main super PAC spent tens of thousands of dollars attacking his candidacy.

Progressive activist Kina Collins and several other left-wing candidates split the vote among voters from the party’s left wing.

Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., is running for re-election after representing his Chicago-based House seat since 1997. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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AIPAC, a frequent presence in congressional races, has had mixed success so far by intervening in the 2026 primaries.

In February the group was successful sabotaging former Rep. Tom Malinowski’s comeback bid In New Jersey’s special election, a Democrat with much more hostile views toward Israel narrowly won the primary. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Analilia Mejia, the candidate backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-Y., is on track to win the general election in the Democratic-held seat in April.

The group has also spent heavily against other Illinois Democrats running in other primaries with views critical of Israel, including media personality Kat Abughzaleh.

Analilia Mejia has secured the Democratic Party nomination in the special election to see who will take over newly elected New Jersey Governor 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 served a term in the state legislature.

Chicago faced a number of financial difficulties during Conyears-Ervin’s tenure. Two rating agencies Chicago’s credit rating downgraded in February due to the city’s large budget deficits.