Laura Fine

Last updated

On May 6, 2025, Fine announced that she would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 9th congressional district, seeking to succeed retiring incumbent Jan Schakowsky. The field also includes Evanston mayor Daniel Biss, journalist and social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh, former FBI agent Phil Andrew, and eleven other candidates. [10] Federal Election Commission campaign finance filings for the final quarter of 2025 show Abughazaleh leading in fundraising with $2.7 million raised, while Biss and Fine trail her with just under $2 million each. [11]

Fine has been endorsed by former Democratic Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, the left-leaning PAC Elect Democratic Women, [12] and the Chicago Tribune editorial board. [13]

Jewish Insider described her political platform as being strongly pro-Israel. [2] Fine told the Loyola Phoenix that Israel hasn't committed genocide in Gaza, but has committed unacceptable collective punishment there. She also said that she supports a two-state solution. [14] Fine said she would not seek AIPAC's endorsement, [15] although individual AIPAC donors have contributed to her campaign and fundraised on her behalf. A newly formed Super PAC associated with AIPAC, called Elect Chicago Women, has spent just under half a million dollars in ads supporting her campaign. [16] [17] [18]

Fine told the Daily Herald that ICE should be abolished and referred to its agents as "Trump’s private army." [19] She also introduced legislation in the Illinois Senate that would ban ICE agents from becoming law enforcement officers in Illinois. [20]

According to the Chicago Sun-Times , Fine became an expert in insurance policy. She also told the newspaper that she supports programs like Medicare for All. [21]

The Loyola Phoenix reported that Fine supports legal access to abortion and has pledged to work toward making the United States "100% reliant on green energy while creating union jobs." [14]

Personal life

Fine and her husband, Michael, have two sons. [22] She first ran for office after her husband was in a car accident and their health insurance policy was canceled. [21]

References

  1. ↑ "Illinois State Senate District 9". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Kassel, Matthew (May 6, 2025). "Schakowsky retirement sets up Illinois Democratic primary battle over Mideast policy". Jewish Insider. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ "About Laura". Laura Fine for State Rep - 17th District Illinois. January 16, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  4. ↑ Robb, Tom (January 9, 2013). "Biss Fine Take Oath One Day Early". Journal & Topics. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Laura Fine – 2026 Primary Election". WTTW. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ Miller, Rich (July 28, 2017). "Rep. Fine to run for Biss seat". Capitol Fax . Springfield, Illinois . Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Fine sworn in as State Senator". Illinois Senate Democrats. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  8. ↑ System, Legislative Information (June 14, 2024). "Official Government Website of the Illinois General Assembly". ilga.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ "About the GLLC - Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus". gllc.csgmidwest.org. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  10. ↑ Olander, Olivia (May 6, 2025). "Glenview state Sen. Laura Fine joins race to replace US Rep. Jan Schakowsky". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Illinois - House District 09". Election data and reporting deadlines. Federal Election Commission . Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ Kapos, Shia (January 22, 2026). "Illinois House Dems torch Trump". POLITICO. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Editorial: Laura Fine for Democratic nomination in 9th Congressional District". Chicago Tribune. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Steffens, Jackson (October 22, 2025). "Congressional Catch-up: Laura Fine | The Loyola Phoenix" . Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  15. ↑ Lacy, Akela; Valdez, Jonah (December 16, 2025). "AIPAC Head Hosts Fundraiser for House Candidate Who Swears AIPAC Isn't Backing Her". The Intercept. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ Lacey, Akela (February 17, 2026). "AIPAC Is Flooding Illinois With Cash. Pro-Palestine Groups Are Backing Kat Abughazaleh". The Intercept . Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ Eadie, Matthew (February 4, 2026). "Who's behind the new Super PAC ads on TV?". Evanston Now . Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  18. ↑ Vakil, Caroline (February 12, 2026). "Progressive groups back Abughazaleh in crowded Dem field for Illinois House seat". The Hill . Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  19. ↑ Lissau, Russell (February 12, 2026). "Many — but not all — 9th Congressional District Democratic candidates say abolish ICE". www.dailyherald.com. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  20. ↑ Schneider, Scott (February 4, 2026). "New bill would ban ICE agents from becoming law enforcement officers in Illinois". FOX 32 Chicago. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Sfondeles, Tina (February 25, 2026). "Crowded field of 15 Democrats jockey to succeed U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Representative Biography". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
Laura Fine
Laura Fine 20180807 11 (1).jpg
Fine in 2018
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2019
Members of the Illinois Senate
104th General Assembly (2025–2027)
President
Don Harmon (D)
Majority Leader
Kimberly Lightford (D)
Minority Leader
John Curran (R)
  1. ▌ Javier Cervantes (D)
  2. ▌ Omar Aquino (D)
  3. ▌ Mattie Hunter (D)
  4. ▌ Kimberly Lightford (D)
  5. ▌ Lakesia Collins (D)
  6. ▌ Sara Feigenholtz (D)
  7. ▌ Mike Simmons (D)
  8. ▌ Ram Villivalam (D)
  9. ▌ Laura Fine (D)
  10. ▌ Robert Martwick (D)
  11. ▌ Mike Porfirio (D)
  12. ▌ Celina Villanueva (D)
  13. ▌ Robert Peters (D)
  14. ▌ Emil Jones III (D)
  15. ▌ Napoleon Harris (D)
  16. ▌ Willie Preston (D)
  17. ▌ Elgie Sims (D)
  18. ▌ William Cunningham (D)
  19. ▌ Michael Hastings (D)
  20. ▌ Graciela Guzmán (D)
  21. ▌ Laura Ellman (D)
  22. ▌ Cristina Castro (D)
  23. ▌ Suzy Glowiak (D)
  24. ▌ Seth Lewis (R)
  25. ▌ Karina Villa (D)
  26. ▌ Darby Hills (R)
  27. ▌ Mark L. Walker (D)
  28. ▌ Laura Murphy (D)
  29. ▌ Julie Morrison (D)
  30. ▌ Adriane Johnson (D)
  31. ▌ Mary Edly-Allen (D)
  32. ▌ Craig Wilcox (R)
  33. ▌ Don DeWitte (R)
  34. ▌ Steve Stadelman (D)
  35. ▌ Dave Syverson (R)
  36. ▌ Michael Halpin (D)
  37. ▌ Li Arellano Jr. (R)
  38. ▌ Sue Rezin (R)
  39. ▌ Don Harmon (D)
  40. ▌ Patrick Joyce (D)
  41. ▌ John Curran (R)
  42. ▌ Linda Holmes (D)
  43. ▌ Rachel Ventura (D)
  44. ▌ Sally Turner (R)
  45. ▌ Andrew Chesney (R)
  46. ▌ Dave Koehler (D)
  47. ▌ Neil Anderson (R)
  48. ▌ Doris Turner (D)
  49. ▌ Meg Loughran Cappel (D)
  50. ▌ Jil Tracy (R)
  51. ▌ Chapin Rose (R)
  52. ▌ Paul Faraci (D)
  53. ▌ Chris Balkema (R)
  54. ▌ Steve McClure (R)
  55. ▌ Jason Plummer (R)
  56. ▌ Erica Harriss (R)
  57. ▌ Christopher Belt (D)
  58. ▌ Terri Bryant (R)
  59. ▌ Dale Fowler (R)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.