IL-09
Illinois 9th Congressional District
Candidates
Shell PACs Deployed
Deployed across multiple IL races. In IL-09, ran TV ads attacking Collins and boosting Simmons on local issues.
Deployed across multiple IL races. In IL-09, ran TV ads attacking Collins and boosting Simmons on local issues.
Ran digital and mail campaigns in the north shore suburbs framing Simmons as the heir to Schakowsky's progressive legacy.
Ran digital and mail campaigns in the north shore suburbs framing Simmons as the heir to Schakowsky's progressive legacy.
Cross-deployed from IL-02, focused on cost-of-living messaging in Evanston and Skokie.
Cross-deployed from IL-02, focused on cost-of-living messaging in Evanston and Skokie.
Timeline
The Story
Jan Schakowsky's retirement after 13 terms opened one of the most progressive seats in the country — and AIPAC saw an opportunity. The Evanston/Skokie-based district has a long history of electing members critical of Israeli government policy, and UDP moved aggressively to install a more compliant successor. They spent nearly $7 million through all three Illinois shell PACs.
The race became the most expensive House primary in the 2026 cycle. AIPAC backed Robert Simmons, a moderate Democrat, while progressive state legislator Lakesia Collins ran on a platform that included conditioning military aid to Israel. Collins secured the endorsement of Schakowsky herself, who cut a late ad calling out the "millions in dark money flooding our district from people who don't live here."
Collins' 52.7% victory was a significant blow to AIPAC's Illinois strategy. Combined with the IL-08 loss, it showed that AIPAC's 2-for-4 record in the state fell far short of the clean sweep they had planned. The counter-PAC's $3 million investment in the race — its largest single commitment — proved that organized progressive spending could offset AIPAC's financial advantage in the right districts.