“I looked at this as a generational opportunity,” said candidate Jonathan Swain, who said he was just 17 years old when Bobby Rush was first elected. The understanding of the potentially historic moment to fill Rush’s shoes isn’t lost on them. The list of hopefuls has grown exponentially in the last two months and currently includes a state senator, a Chicago alderman, at least two teachers, two pastors, a few nonprofit leaders, a couple of businessmen, a realtor and a “violence interrupter.” Given the district’s storied history, it’s not surprising that more people than could fit on an NBA roster want a chance at the seat. He remains the only politician to whom former President Barack Obama ever lost an election. Once he finishes his term, Rush will have represented the district for 30 years. Rush, a former Black Panther, got elected to the seat in 1993 after decades of political activism. In the early 1980s, Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, served as congressman of the 1st District before launching his historic mayoral campaign. During the middle of the 20th century, then-Congressman Bill Dawson served for 28 years, as he built Chicago’s Black political machine through patronage and loyalty to then-Mayor Richard J. The seat has been held by a Black man since Oscar DePriest was elected in 1929. … The community worked together and they fought together for issues that negatively impacted them.” Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago, who formally jumped into the race in early March. “Because of segregation, Black residents were locked into those areas that are now known as Bronzeville,” said state Sen. And it’s played a central role in Chicago’s Black politics for nearly a century. The historic district has long included the area known as the Black Belt on Chicago’s South Side, where thousands of African Americans settled during the Great Migration of the early 20th century. The district includes much of Chicago’s South Side, south suburbs and, with the most recent redistricting, now extends into portions of Will and Kankakee counties, capturing rural towns like Channahon and Bourbonnais. He has been fighting for our community for all of his adult life, so it’s time for him to retire and sit down and pass the torch on to someone else.” “Those are big shoes to fill, that’s for sure,” said Jennifer Bell, a resident of the 1st Congressional District.
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