Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Evrvin lost her bid Tuesday for a U.S. House seat, despite a significant spending campaign by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliates. Conyears-Evrvin faced a crowded Democratic primary for the district, which leans heavily Democratic.
State Rep. LaShawn Ford won the 13-way primary after surviving a barrage of attack ads, much of which was funded by the cryptocurrency industry. Ford received the endorsement of Rep. Danny Davis, who represented the district for nearly 30 years. The district includes parts of Chicago’s South Side and western suburbs.
AIPAC and its super PAC spent more than $5 million to boost Conyears-Evrvin’s campaign. She also had support from Chicago’s teachers’ unions and the cryptocurrency industry. Despite these efforts, Ford’s campaign, which faced opposition from several progressive candidates, emerged victorious. His general election opponent will face a tough race in the heavily Democratic district, which former Vice President Kamala Harris carried with over 80% of the vote in 2024.
Conyears-Evrvin previously lost in a primary against Davis in 2024 amid allegations of misusing city funds and retaliating against whistleblowers. She paid a $30,000 fine in 2025 to settle ethics charges. Meanwhile, other candidates, including real estate developer Jason Friedman and progressive activist Kina Collins, ran in the open primary, splitting the vote on the left flank of the party.
AIPAC has had mixed results in recent primaries. The group successfully opposed former Rep. Tom Malinowski’s bid in New Jersey earlier this year but supported candidates like Analilia Mejia, endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is expected to win her district’s general election. AIPAC also spent heavily against several Illinois Democrats with critical views on Israel, including media personality Kat Abughzaleh.
Conyears-Evrvin has served as Chicago’s city treasurer since 2019 and previously served one term in the Illinois state legislature. During her tenure, Chicago has faced fiscal challenges, with two credit rating agencies downgrading its credit rating earlier this year due to budget deficits.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
