La Shawn Ford
Illinois State Representative, District 8 since 2006. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 11 elections between 2006 and 2024, winning 11. Won the 2026 race for Illinois's 7th District.
- In office
- 20 yrs
- Since 2006
- Bills became law
- 2
- 73 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 18.1%
- Chamber median 3.8%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +78.4
- Won 2026
- Elections
- 12
- 2006–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 2:30 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations: Higher Education · chair
- Gaming
- Labor and Commerce
- Mental Health and Addiction
- Museum, Arts, Culture and Entertainment
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Ford sits in the Illinois House of Representatives
Ford is closer to the center than 62% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Margaret Croke, Dan Didech, Joyce Mason
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Ford’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills3%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Ford’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Ford | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 | SB 3222: VIDEO STREAMING AD VOLUME | Not voting | Yes | No | Passed 77–31 |
| May 29, 2026 | SB 2762: INS-SEIZURE DETECTION DEVICE | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 82–25 |
| May 27, 2026 | SB 3020: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-HARASSMENT | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 91–23 |
| May 21, 2026 | SB 2770: LOC FIRST RESPONDER INSURANCE | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 89–21 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | HB 4379: ADULT CHANGING STATIONS | Not voting | Yes | No | Passed 72–18 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Ford was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | U.S. House, IL-7 | Won | D+78.4 | D+66.1 | +12.3 |
| 2024 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+50.4 | D+55.3 | −4.9 |
| 2022 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+51.0 | D+64.1 | −13.1 |
| 2020 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2006 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+71.8 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $819.3K
- Spent
- $725.8K
- Cash
- $93.5K
Source: FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:14 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| LA SHAWN K FORD FOR CONGRESS FEC | Active |
Source: FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:14 AM ET
Seats Ford has held
- Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 · since 2006
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Ford has run against
- Chad Koppie (R) · 2026 election, won
- Leslie Collazo (R) · 2024 election, won
- Thomas Hurley (R) · 2022 election, won
- Glenn L. Harris (R) · 2006 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Ford
One person, matched across every source we use.
- FEC H6IL07354
- Open States ocd-person/91164a3d-fc17-4252-a31f-a8d0d113b74b
- Wikidata Q6465272
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 2:30 PM ET