Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) signaled her retirement from the House after serving 14 terms on Capitol Hill, joining the growing list of elder lawmakers forgoing reelection ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Schakowsky, 80, announced her plans on May 5, according to Politico. Schakowsky’s annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch is scheduled for that date in Chicago. The outlet reported that she started informing her allies that she would not seek reelection to Illinois’s 9th District, a seat she’s held since 1999.
A longtime champion of progressive policy in Congress, Schakowsky is one of several House Democrats facing long-shot challenges from a younger generation of grassroots activists and social media content creators in 2026. Many have called for a generational shake-up in national politics.
Schakowsky defeated Gov. JB Pritzker in the 1998 primary elections after serving eight years in the state legislature. A longtime ally of former Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Schakowsky served on the commission for the 2010 Bowles-Simpson budget plan, which aimed to address the federal deficit and Social Security insolvency. Schakowsky also played a major role in drafting former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Schakowsky is a strong voice on the Energy and Commerce Committee and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a vocal bloc of lawmakers that has challenged their own Democratic colleagues on foreign conflicts and efforts to regain the trust of the working class.
Kat Abughazaleh, Schakowsky’s primary challenger, thanked the incumbent for her decades of service in Congress and the Illinois state House. In a statement, Abughazaleh said she appreciated Schakowsky retiring and “encouraging other candidates to emerge.”
“I’m glad that Rep. Schakowsky understands that this moment calls for new leadership, and I’m looking forward to pushing for even bolder, progressive change for the Ninth District and for the entire country,” said Abughazaleh, a liberal content creator who raised significant funds just days after launching her campaign.
Abughazaleh, 26, currently the sole Democrat running for the deep-blue seat, said she wants the primary to be competitive “because I want the best person for the job.”
“Though I am confident that I am the right person for this District in this historical moment, I am also steadfast in my belief that voters deserve choices,” Abughazaleh said, adding that any interested parties could email her campaign to get assistance to “run against me. (No, I’m not kidding!)”
The 9th District includes parts of Chicago and some northern suburbs. Democratic State Sen. Laura Fine and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss have been widely speculated to launch bids following Schakowsky’s retirement announcement.
The news of Schakowsky’s likely departure from national politics came shortly after Illinois received news Wednesday that longtime lawmaker Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) would not seek reelection. Durbin said it is time to “pass the torch.” He is the fifth senator to announce retirement, and all of them are over the age of 65.
DURBIN SENATE RETIREMENT OPENS DOOR FOR BIG-NAME DEMOCRATS IN SOLID BLUE ILLINOIS
Several House Democrats, including Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Robin Kelly (D-IL), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL), are eyeing bids for the open Senate seat, which is expected to remain in Democratic hands easily.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Schakowsky for comment.