Former Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss projected to win Illinois' 9th Congressional District – CBS News

Former Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss projected to win Illinois’ 9th Congressional District  CBS News

Former Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss will become the next Congressman from Illinois' 9th District, replacing longtime Rep. Jan Schakowsky.CBS News projects Biss as the winner in the race against Republican John Elleson, a pastor from Arlington Heights. Biss stepped down as mayor of Evanston last month.In his victory speech Tuesday night, Biss said, "Tonight, we are putting the federal government back on the side of the people.""We have some problems. We're facing some challenges. We are watching as people across this country are unable to afford housing, or unable to afford health care, or unable to afford child care as the wealthiest get richer and richer and richer, and the system is making it harder and harder for people to break out beyond that," he said.

"At the same time, we're seeing our democracy under threat, our core civil rights under attack, the very institutions that we rely on being threatened. So this is a serious moment, but I've got to tell you, I am feeling hopeful and optimistic."Schakowsky announced her retirement in May and ignited one of the most hotly contested Democratic primaries in the Chicago area, with Biss coming out on top of a 15-candidate field with 29.4% of the vote. Elleson defeated three other candidates to win his place ont he ballot.Biss framed his campaign around immigration,