U.S. House, Illinois 9th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Illinois's 9th Congressional District?
Daniel Biss has the strongest record in Illinois's 9th Congressional District. Daniel Biss scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Daniel Biss's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. John Elleson (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Daniel Biss
64 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
Republican
John Elleson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Daniel Biss
- Unresolved2024-01-12
A former Evanston equity manager sued the city, Mayor Biss, the city manager and the interim corporation counsel in federal court, alleging he was fired in violation of the First Amendment over statements on Gaza.
Where it stands: Bird v. Biss, N.D. Ill. 1:24-cv-00310, filed Jan. 12, 2024; the federal docket index shows no termination date as of its last update (July 2025). The city said it would defend against the claims.
Sources: Evanston RoundTable, Jan. 14, 2024, CourtListener federal docket index, N.D. Ill. 1:24-cv-00310
- On the record2025-12-17
As Evanston mayor he confronted Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino on camera during a federal immigration enforcement operation in the city on Dec. 17, 2025.
Sources: WTTW News, Dec. 17, 2025, Fox News, Dec. 2025
- On the record2017-03-20
While a Democratic state senator, publicly said Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic chair Michael Madigan had been in power too long.
Source: Chicago Tribune, March 20, 2017
- On the record2017-02
Topology and its Applications retracted a 2002 mathematics paper by Biss, finding most results false; editors called the errors inaccurate, not fraudulent, and Biss did not dispute the findings.
Sources: Retraction Watch, Feb. 13, 2017, Retraction Watch, Feb. 23, 2017
John Elleson
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Daniel Biss. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026 and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed Aug. 11, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078197, FEC administrative fines search
John Elleson. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Daniel Biss. As a sitting Democratic state senator in March 2017 he said House Speaker Michael Madigan, also the state Democratic Party chair, had been in power too long.
Source: Chicago Tribune, March 20, 2017
John Elleson. In the 2026 primary he called for an immigration amnesty policy, acknowledging it is unpopular in his party and diverging from President Trump's approach.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Daniel Biss. Gave a video interview to the Daily Herald in the 2026 primary and held public meet-and-greets after winning the nomination. No 2026 general election debate record found.
Sources: Shaw Local (Daily Herald), Feb. 12, 2026, Shaw Local (Daily Herald), March 19, 2026
John Elleson. Took part in a Daily Herald group video interview of the Republican candidates in the 2026 primary and campaigned at commuter stations. No 2026 general election debate record found.
Sources: Shaw Local (Daily Herald), Feb. 17, 2026, Shaw Local (Daily Herald), March 19, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Daniel Biss. Served in the Illinois House (2011 to 2013) and Senate (2013 to 2019) and has been mayor of Evanston since 2021. No censure or ethics finding found.
John Elleson. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Daniel Biss. Has held sworn office as a state legislator and as mayor of Evanston. No recorded action to reject certified results and no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Campaign site, About
John Elleson. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Daniel Biss. State representative from 2011 to 2013 and state senator for the 9th District from 2013 to 2019; mayor of Evanston since 2021; earlier a University of Chicago mathematics professor.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Daniel K. Biss, Chicago Tribune, March 20, 2017
John Elleson. Works as a pastor; Journal & Topics describes him as an independent pastor at Lakewood Chapel in Arlington Heights. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Elleson, Journal & Topics, Feb. 18, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Daniel Biss. Chaired the Illinois Senate Labor Committee in 2017 and publishes an issues platform with specific federal proposals.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Daniel K. Biss, committee assignments, Campaign site, Issues
John Elleson. States positions in general terms in his Ballotpedia survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Elleson
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Daniel Biss. Publishes a detailed issues page, answered the Daily Herald's 2026 questionnaire and gave a video interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, Shaw Local (Daily Herald), March 9, 2026, Ballotpedia, Daniel K. Biss
John Elleson. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025, answered the Daily Herald's 2026 questionnaire and took part in its group interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Elleson, Shaw Local (Daily Herald), March 9, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Daniel Biss. Lives in Evanston, which he has represented since 2011 as a legislator and mayor. FEC by-state totals show about 81 percent of itemized individual contributions from Illinois.
Sources: Campaign site, About, Chicago Tribune, March 20, 2017, FEC contribution totals by state
John Elleson. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Daniel Biss. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
John Elleson. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Daniel Biss. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates his last Illinois Senate term (2017 to 2018) Meets expectations, with 2 bills enacted; he was the Senate sponsor of the Secure Choice retirement savings law signed Jan. 4, 2015.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, state legislative effectiveness data (all 50 states), Daily Northwestern, Jan. 6, 2015, Governing (Tribune News Service), Jan. 2015
John Elleson. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Daniel Biss. No public record found.
John Elleson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Daniel Biss. No public record found.
John Elleson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Daniel Biss. No public record found.
John Elleson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Daniel Biss. No public record found.
John Elleson. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Illinois's 9th Congressional District?
Daniel Biss has the strongest record in Illinois's 9th Congressional District. Daniel Biss scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Daniel Biss's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. John Elleson (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Illinois's 9th Congressional District in 2026?
Daniel Biss (Democratic), John Elleson (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Daniel Biss a good candidate for Congress?
Daniel Biss scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is John Elleson a good candidate for Congress?
John Elleson has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Illinois race scored, and the Illinois 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.