Former Illinois U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is exploring a comeback bid to congress in his old south suburban district, as U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly sets her sights on outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat.
The Friends of Jesse Jackson Jr. for Congress 2026 Exploratory Committee filed a statement of organization on Sunday with the Federal Election Commission. Jackson’s bid is another product of a game of political musical chairs that was put in motion when Durbin in April announced he wouldn’t seek reelection.
“As part of the Jesse Jackson Jr. for Congress 2026 Exploratory effort, it is my intention to secure a place on the ballot by authorizing the circulation and collection of 10,000 signatures for nominating petitions, commencing on August 5th, and to register 5,000 new voters in the Second Congressional District,” Jackson said in a statement.
A public relations trial balloon is indeed in play for Jackson, who left Congress in 2012 after 17 years, amid a battle with bipolar depression and a federal criminal probe centered on his campaign funds. Jackson and his then-wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) pleaded guilty in 2013 to stealing $750,000 from campaign funds that they used for lavish personal expenses. The former congressman served 23 months in federal prison.
The former power couple finalized a contentious divorce in 2018. Jackson Jr. in 2017 said the couple was $1.8 million in debt thanks to legal bills from their federal criminal prosecution and mounting fees from the divorce. In court documents, Jackson Jr.’s attorneys said then that he was living off of $125,000 in workers’ compensation and disability payments. It’s unclear whether Jackson is still receiving those payments.
In Illinois, anyone with a felony conviction is barred from holding local elected office, although local lawmakers attempted to lift that restriction. The U.S. Constitution places few restrictions on holding federal office, including being at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years and living in the state they represent.
Jackson’s supporters, including former Congressman Bobby Rush, Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill, former State Sen. James Meeks and Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus M. Jones have been drumming up support for another Jackson run.
Six Democrats are already vying for the 2nd Congressional District, including State Sen. Robert Peters, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Yumeka Brown, businessman Eric France, policy strategist Adal Regis and youth pastor and advocate Jeremy Young. The district stretches from the South Side to the south suburbs and also extends south into portions of central Illinois.
Kelly, who has $2.45 million cash on hand in her Senate bid, can opt to collect petitions for both the 2nd Congressional District and the Senate seat and make a game time decision ahead of the March primary.