State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford, one of 16 people vying for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Illinois 7th district, announced Thursday that he’s been endorsed by former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.
White, a legendary political figure in Illinois statewide politics who is widely liked and respected, joins a powerful group of political figures who have thrown their support behind Ford, including retiring incumbent Danny K. Davis and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
White’s endorsement for the March 2026 primary comes as Ford also said he raised about $250,000 through the first month of his campaign. “That was in just 30 days, without a fundraising company” Ford said, adding that he expected to hire someone soon.
“We have a lot of work to do,” he said. “I haven’t made a lot of (fund raising) calls yet.”
Ford started his fourth quarter with a fundraiser at a private home in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood Oct. 2. “It was well attended, we had about 80 people in the house,” he said of the event, which both Welch and Davis attended.
Official 3rd quarter fund raising totals will be released by the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 16.
Asked about the muscular fund raising by some of his opponents, including Jason Friedman and Dr. Thomas Fisher, Ford replied, “I’m not conceding to being out fundraised, but if I am, I’m committed to working hard to win, and show I’m the best candidate.”
Friedman, a Chicago businessman has a strong lead in fundraising, having raised over $1 million so far, including 243 donations for $3,500 each. At the end of the 2nd quarter on June 30, he had $905,687 on hand.
On Oct. 7, Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency physician, announced his campaign had raised “over $375,000” in the seven weeks since launching his campaign in mid-August.
Fischer said in a statement that the money “will help the campaign expand direct voter contact and communicate Dr. Fisher’s vision to ensure affordable, accessible care and greater economic opportunity across the district.”
And while Richard Boykin hasn’t announced his 3rd quarter figures yet, he did air his first campaign ad on WGN television on Wednesday. In it, Boykin touts his roots in Englewood, his overcoming economic challenges to become a lawyer, and his 10 years as Rep. Davis’s chief of staff, during which, he said, he “help(ed) pass major legislation” with Davis.
Ford says his main focus so far has been canvasing neighborhoods and circulating petitions. The campaign had a “Canvass the Community Party” on Saturday, Oct. 4, and expects to file “between 13,000 and 15,000 petition signatures.”
But he’s taking nothing for granted. “Every day we have someone at the Board of Elections validating the (petition) signatures,” Ford said. “We’re making sure they’re good.”
Ford said he’s confident that his record as a state legislator and social activist with deep roots in the community will resonate with an electorate looking to replace a veteran 16 term congressman.
“There’s no one else in this race that has the accomplishments as a community leader and passing bills,” he said. “For 18 years.”
He said the largest segment of current House members come from state and local elected office. (In fact, 70 percent, 305 current US House members, do.)
“They say it’s a great training ground for Congress,” Ford said. He said he learned early on in Springfield that legislation doesn’t get passed just because it’s a good idea.
“You know how difficult it is to pass bills?” he asked. “It takes time to build trust with colleagues. Your first job is to build relationships (with legislators). You have to convince people to vote for your bills. You have to build coalitions.”
Ford also expressed confidence that he has strong political ground support going into an exceedingly crowded 16 candidate Democratic primary on March 17.
“Jesse White has a strong (political) base, He’s well respected in the state,” Ford said. “We have Welch (in Proviso Township), and hopefully we can do well with the Democratic Party of Oak Park, and the alderpeople in the city.”
Ford said his campaign also has a ground game geared up, with motivated volunteers.
“We’re going to hit every door,” he said. “Emails, texts, phone calls.”
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