Global Strategy Group
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
24%
Democrat
Jesse Jackson Jr.
Democrat
Jesse Jackson Jr.
IL-02 Democratic nominee?
$41.6K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer U.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
Age61 years old (Mar 11, 1965)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundPolitician
EducationB.S., North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (1987)
Notable personal detailsJesse Louis Jackson Jr. is an American politician and lawyer who represented Illinois’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until resigning in 2012. He earned a B.S. from North Carolina A&T State University, an M.A. from Chicago Theological Seminary, and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. In 2013 he was convicted of conspiracy related to campaign finance misconduct and served a federal prison sentence.
SourcesShowHide
history.house.govfec.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgkpbs.orgfoxnews.comes.wikipedia.orglatimes.comnews.wttw.comwashingtonpost.comcbsnews.comaxios.comapnews.comcommons.wikimedia.orgwsws.orgpolitico.comjessejacksonjrforcongress.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgontheissues.orggrist.orglcv.orgmarkey.senate.govbritannica.comarchive.nlpc.orgdailynorthwestern.comchicago.suntimes.comseattlepi.comcommondreams.orgthenewamerican.comksat.comlegislation.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgreed.senate.govsenate.govjackson.house.govcongress.govjudiciary.senate.govdemocrats-science.house.govdocquery.fec.govgovinfo.govhouse.govnorton.house.govossoff.senate.govschakowsky.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate opposes tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and warns such cuts increase deficits without creating jobs. He supports workforce development, policies to grow jobs and tax revenues in the district, protection of collective bargaining, and expanded family supports such as paid parental leave and childcare access.
Healthcare
Supports strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act, restoring federal subsidies, expanding Medicaid and VA-funded caregiver programs, increasing funding for community health centers and mental-health services, and protecting reproductive rights.
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Immigration & Border
Supports expanded legal pathways for certain undocumented immigrants, backing measures that provide an earned path to citizenship for qualifying young people (the DREAM Act) and describing such reforms as morally and economically important. Emphasizes that America is a nation of immigrants and frames the DREAM Act as an earned, rigorous path to citizenship rather than amnesty.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion access and holds a pro-choice legislative record. Received consistent top scores from pro‑choice organizations (100% NARAL/Planned Parenthood ratings) and voted against multiple federal restrictions and bans on abortion.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supported major 2009 federal clean-energy and climate legislation (cap-and-trade) and voted for federal stimulus measures that included sizable clean-energy investments. His congressional record shows votes in favor of climate and clean-energy policy rather than opposition to emissions regulation.
Public Safety & Guns
Jesse Jackson Jr. has supported stronger gun regulations, including reinstating restrictions on semi-automatic/assault-style weapons, expanded background checks, licensing requirements, and other federal restrictions on firearm purchases and possession. His congressional record and candidate questionnaires show support for banning many semi-automatic firearms and strengthening enforcement of existing gun laws.
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$365.8K
$274.4K
$182.9K
$91.5K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$365.8K
$6.4K
$359.4K
$24.0K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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