Prediction Edge
Democrat
Richard Boykin

Richard Boykin

Overview

Current roleFormer Commissioner

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyMainstream Democrat

Age57 years old (Sep 9, 1968)

GenderMale

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LocationIllinois

BackgroundAttorney

EducationCentral State University (B.S.)

Notable personal detailsRichard R. Boykin is an American attorney and Democratic politician who served as a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1st District) from 2014 to 2018. He previously worked in Washington, D.C., including as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (1997–2006) and as a Congressional Black Caucus fellow for U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (1994). In 2026 he is a Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Illinois’s 7th Congressional District.

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Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports protecting and expanding social programs (Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security) and using federal tax credits and targeted incentives to spur investment and job creation in distressed communities while opposing regressive fees that burden consumers. Advocates consumer protections (eliminating unfair swipe fees) and wants federal investment for economically distressed neighborhoods.

Healthcare

Supports protecting Medicare and restoring cuts to Medicaid and federal public-health funding, aims to keep hospitals open and lower health care costs, and is assembling a healthcare task force to expand access and address health equity in the district.

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Immigration & Border

Supports comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship for long-term residents and abolition of ICE, while calling for enforcement with constitutional due process. Positions emphasize expanded legal pathways and limits on current enforcement structures.

Public Safety & Guns

Supports renewing the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, expanding firearm safety requirements (safe storage and new safety features), promoting gun buybacks and expanded prosecution of gun crimes, and increasing investments in violence-prevention and community-based programs. Also supports measures to reduce access to guns to prevent suicides and to expand victim services and community policing initiatives.

Polls

IL-07 Democratic nominee?
Polling Average
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
23%
15%
12%
10%
Richard Boykin
R. Boykin
La Shawn Ford
L. Ford
Melissa Conyears Ervin
M. Ervin
Kina Collins
K. Collins
Jason Friedman
J. Friedman
Thomas Fisher
T. Fisher
Anthony Driver Jr.
A. Driver
Reed Showalter
R. Showalter
Date (Start - End)SpreadBoykinFordErvinCollinsFriedmanFisherDriverShowalter
Polling Average
Ford+19.0
4.0%23.0%15.0%12.0%10.0%4.0%1.0%1.0%
Upswing ResearchJan 7 - 10
Ford+19.0
4.0%23.0%15.0%12.0%10.0%4.0%1.0%1.0%

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

Fundraising

Latest report: Cycle 2026
Total raisedCash on hand
$455.2K
$341.4K
$227.6K
$113.8K
$0

2026

Latest
Year
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate

Cycle 2026

$455.2K
$2.1K
$449.7K
$30.0K

Source: FEC

New updates coming soon

We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

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