Democrat Melissa Bean will return to the U.S. House of Representatives. According to a CBS News projection, she defeated Republican Jennifer Davis in the race for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. She will replace Raja Krishnamoorthi, who gave up his seat after an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate.
Melissa Bean Returns to the House After 15 Years
Bean represented Illinois’ 8th District in Congress from 2005 to 2011. In the 2010 election, she lost to Republican Joe Walsh, who was associated with the Tea Party movement. Walsh served one term and lost in 2012 to Tammy Duckworth, who now represents Illinois in the U.S. Senate.
After leaving Congress, Melissa Bean worked as, among other things, chief executive of the Executives’ Club of Chicago, an organization of business community representatives. She was also an executive at JPMorgan Chase.
Her Opponent Emphasized Tech Industry Experience
Bean’s opponent was Republican Jennifer Davis, a technology entrepreneur and mother of 10. During the campaign, she stressed the importance of her expertise in artificial intelligence and said she would use her experience in her work in Congress.
The 8th Congressional District covers parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. It includes Schaumburg, Elgin, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Des Plaines and West Dundee, among other communities.
Raja Krishnamoorthi Leaves Congress
Raja Krishnamoorthi first won his seat in 2016. In the most recent election, he sought the Democratic nomination in the race for the U.S. Senate. He ran after longtime Sen. Dick Durbin announced that he would not seek reelection.
Krishnamoorthi, however, lost the primary to Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Following his unsuccessful bid for the Senate seat, he gave up his seat in the House of Representatives.
Source: Polski.FM
