Democratic U.S. Representative Danny Davis officially announced his retirement on Thursday, concluding a significant 15-term career in Congress. With his decision, he handed a notable endorsement to state Representative La Shawn Ford, positioning him as a key candidate in what is expected to be a competitive primary election.
Davis, aged 83, had hinted at his retirement for several weeks before making the announcement outside his West Side office. Surrounded by supportive constituents and friends, he reflected on the impact of his political career.
“I would hope that I helped inspire, motivate, and activate people to be engaged in public policy decision-making at a different level than what was taking place when I started doing this,” he stated.
Davis emphasized the importance of civic responsibility, warning against the dangers of apathy in political engagement. “If people don’t feel that they have a responsibility, a citizenship responsibility, then tyrants like President Donald Trump end up leading the country,” he said.
His retirement opens up one of four vacant congressional seats in Illinois, part of a political shuffle following announcements from other prominent figures, including Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jan Schakowsky, both of whom recently declared they would not seek reelection.
Since his election in 1996, Davis has represented the 7th Congressional District, a region that includes Chicago’s West Side and extends from west suburban Hillside into the Loop and down to the South Side. Davis’s political journey began when he moved to Chicago from Arkansas in 1961 after a career in education and local government, serving as a teacher, alderperson, and commissioner.
Despite earlier unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in the mid-1980s and three bids for Chicago mayor, Davis eventually secured his position in the U.S. House, where he has since been influential on various critical issues.
Davis has served on the Committee on Ways and Means and is recognized as the ranking member of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee. His work has spanned essential topics such as civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, healthcare, and criminal justice reform.
Among his proudest achievements, Davis cited his role in securing federal funds for the Illinois Medical District, which facilitated major developments in the South Loop and Near West Side. He also expressed pride in being part of the legislative efforts behind the Affordable Care Act.
“There has been change, positive and progressive change,” he remarked. “There also comes a time when one decides that there are new avenues, new approaches, new opportunities, and new needs.”
The announcement comes in a political climate where age and experience are increasingly scrutinized among lawmakers. Davis acknowledged that his age played a role in his decision to step down but emphasized that he feels mentally sharp and capable to serve until the end of his term in January 2027.
He remarked, “I don’t want to be a distraction. The young people who are running for office — I hope they will put in the time, energy, and effort that I put in.”
Davis endorsed Ford, calling him “young, energetic, and super ready,” and his support is likely to bolster Ford’s candidacy as he competes against other contenders for the seat.
Ford, 53, is well-established in the community and announced his bid for Davis’s position in May. He has roots in the Cabrini Green housing project and was raised in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, where he has previously worked as a teachers, and currently as a licensed real estate broker.
Upon hearing of Davis’s decision to retire, Ford expressed surprise, joking that he didn’t think Davis would ever step down. He acknowledged the significant legacy Davis leaves behind but believes they align closely on many issues, particularly around criminal justice reform and health care accessibility.
“There’s got to be someone that shares those same values because those are very pressing issues in the seventh congressional district,” Ford stressed.
He highlighted the crucial nature of addressing public health and justice reform concerns within the district, where many residents face systemic challenges related to healthcare, substance use disorders, and the long-term effects of the criminal justice system.
“Congressman Davis dealt with those types of issues head on,” he noted, affirming his commitment to continuing those efforts should he be elected. “Those are issues that actually have both state and federal applications.”
In conclusion, as the race begins to heat up for the 7th Congressional District seat, both Davis’s retirement and his endorsement of Ford illustrate a pivotal moment in Illinois politics. Attention will now turn to how this primary unfolds amidst the backdrop of shifting political dynamics within the Democratic Party at both state and national levels.
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