Democrats received brutal news this week that leaves their House leadership increasingly desperate.
A longtime powerhouse just decided she’s had enough.
And Democrats’ House leadership was blindsided when one Congresswoman dropped a bombshell announcement that left them scrambling.
Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) revealed Monday that she won’t seek reelection for a 15th term in Congress, delivering yet another devastating blow to Democrats as they struggle to maintain their dwindling political bench.
The 80-year-old congresswoman made her shocking announcement during her annual Chicago luncheon, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker among those watching in stunned silence.
“For the remainder of my term, and beyond, I vow to continue taking every opportunity possible to fight for my community and my country,” Schakowsky said in an official statement that left many Democrats wondering who could possibly fill her shoes.
The retirement is the second bombshell departure for Illinois Democrats in less than two weeks, coming hot on the heels of Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin’s announcement that he won’t seek a sixth term in 2026.
The ongoing departures signal serious trouble for Democrats heading into the 2026 Midterms.
Schakowsky, first elected to Congress in 1999, has been a reliable vote for the radical left agenda throughout her lengthy tenure. Before Congress, she served in the Illinois state legislature and worked as a public school teacher.
The 14-term congresswoman has focused heavily on expanding government-run healthcare, pushing open borders immigration policies, and advocating for liberal policies affecting senior citizens.
Her most radical position might be her unhinged hatred for President Donald Trump – she publicly boycotted both of his presidential inaugurations, sending a clear message about her unwillingness to accept election results when they don’t go her way.
Schakowsky proudly counted herself among the architects of Obamacare, the controversial healthcare overhaul that sent premiums skyrocketing for millions of working Americans.
Schakowsky said Monday that she’s “most proud” of her work to help draft the Affordable Care Act, consumer protections and legislation to help senior citizens, seemingly oblivious to the financial hardships many families faced as a result of these laws.
Her heavily Democratic 9th District, which includes Chicago neighborhoods along Lake Michigan and a mix of wealthy and middle-class suburbs north and northwest of the city, will likely remain in Democrat hands.
But the sudden retirement of two powerful Illinois Democrats suggests deeper problems within the party.
The timing appears particularly suspicious as Schakowsky was already facing a serious primary challenge from a younger progressive.
Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive political influencer and journalist, had already announced her intention to run and was significantly outpacing Schakowsky in fundraising. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Abughazaleh raised an impressive $379,000 in the first quarter of 2025 compared to Schakowsky’s meager $213,000.
Though Schakowsky still has more cash on hand with $877,000, the fundraising trend clearly showed trouble on the horizon for the aging incumbent.
Other potential candidates for the seat include Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, a former state lawmaker, along with state legislators Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Laura Fine.
Schakowsky’s term will end in January 2027, at which point she will have spent nearly three decades in Congress collecting a taxpayer-funded salary and benefits.
The exodus of veteran Democrats from Congress continues a troubling pattern for the left, with many of their most experienced legislators choosing retirement over facing voters in the post-Biden era.
As President Trump’s agenda continues gaining momentum across the country, many Democrats seem to be reading the writing on the wall and heading for the exits.
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