At the September 2025 Labor Day parade, people lined Desplaines Street in Chicago’s West Loop.
Alongside the crowd was State Senator Robert Peters, who served the 13th Senate District in Illinois for the last seven years, which stretches from Chicago’s downtown to the Indiana border. The Democratic leader and Chicago native sponsored the bill that reformed Illinois’s criminal justice system, which eliminated cash bail. Now, he is seeking a move to Washington, DC.
Peters said he would push for numerous priorities if elected to represent the 2nd congressional district.
“It’s making sure that we have universal health care, not only trying to bring back SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits, but how do we make sure to ease the pressures of people who are in a food desert?” said Peters. “How do we make sure that we deal with climate change? The fact that communities, particularly in the south suburbs and in our rural communities, are struggling with flooding. How do we make sure that communities have the resources they need to fight against that?”
Peters is in a crowded field of Democratic contenders. As of February 10, the list includes Yumeka Brown, Eric France, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Patrick Keating, Donna Miller, Sidney Moore, State Sen. Willie Preston (D), Adal Regis, and Jeremy Young.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D) is the current officeholder in the district. She is not seeking re-election in this race in hopes of replacing Dick Durbin in the US Senate.
Jackson, Jr. is trying to return to the district he represented from 1995 until his resignation in 2012. He pleaded guilty to misusing $750,000 in campaign funds – spending the money as a personal slush fund. After spending 2 years in prison, Jackson, Jr. said he’s earned a second chance.
“And so I’ve been fighting for the forgiveness and the redemption of all mankind, of all men and women,” said Jackson, Jr. “Not just Joe Biden’s son and family that was pardoned by the President… not just the 1500 people that Donald Trump pardoned because they were his political supporters, but every man and woman in our system who’s erred deserves a second chance.”
He is part of a political family. His father is the prominent civil rights leader and presidential candidate Jesse Jackson. His brother is Rep. Johnathan Jackson of the 1st congressional district in Illinois.
In November 2025, Jesse Jackson, Jr. was in Danville to encourage residents that jobs could be brought to Central Illinois if an airport were built in Chicago’s south suburbs. He said the airport could ship packages globally and replace a UPS facility that closed last summer in Vermilion County.
“It means farmers are going to be able to get their products to market,” said Jackson. “It means UPS, DHL, Amazon, these large tech companies, are going to be able to locate to our area.”
Republican Michael Scott Noack is also running for this seat. He did not respond to our request for an interview.
Independent candidate Ashley Banks is also running.
You can vote for your choice in the Illinois Primary on March 17. The winners will compete in the general election in November. That vote will determine if the next US Congress will hold a majority of Democratic or Republican seats.
