River North developer holds big fundraising lead in Democratic fight to replace U.S. Rep. Danny Davis

A white Democrat running in a Chicago-area congressional district that’s had Black representation for a half century has leapt far ahead of the competition in fundraising after reaping huge sums from finance, real estate and law interests.

Developer Jason Friedman of River North has raised nearly three times more than his closest rival among 13 Democratic candidates in the March 17 primary, federal campaign disclosure records show.

“Jason is proud of the depth and breadth of support he’s received since kicking off his campaign nearly a year ago,” a Friedman spokesperson answered about his ability to represent the district’s low-income and working-class voters.

Friedman’s donor base is drawing criticism from candidates who say it will compromise his ability to represent parts of the district excluded from that sort of wealth.

Of the 687 individuals and organizations donating to Friedman’s campaign by the start of 2026, at least 419 (61%) have made their living in finance, real estate or law, according to a WBEZ and Sun-Times review of his Federal Election Commission filings. They accounted for about $1.1 million of his $1.8 million in receipts.

Friedman also raised six-figure sums from restaurant and health care sectors, the review found. Nursing home and senior housing interests contributed another $128,000.

As the crowded primary race headed into its home stretch, Friedman had more than $1 million in cash on hand.

U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, who has held the 7th District seat since 1997, announced his retirement last summer and endorsed state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago), one of seven Black candidates in the primary.

Ford accused Friedman of amassing funds from large donors “to take advantage of…too many Black people being in the race and, ‘I’ll sneak in.’ ”

The district has had Black representation in Congress for the past 53 years.

“He has never been a partner in this fight [for] people on the West Side,” Ford said of a low-income swath of the district, which also includes near-western suburbs as well as some Downtown and South Side neighborhoods. “I think he’s been all about the fight [to] make as much money as possible.”

Friedman’s father, Albert, founded a massive real-estate firm with deep ties to several mayoral administrations and was known as the “mayor of River North.”

In an interview, Friedman, the candidate, said his fundraising figures reflect “a strong desire to have a doer, someone who’s willing to stand up to fight, someone who’s willing to say that career politicians aren’t working for us anymore and aren’t fighting for us anymore, and that Jason Friedman is a person who can get something done and deliver for this community.”

By the start of 2026, Friedman had raised nearly three times as much as the race’s next most prolific fundraiser, Thomas Fisher, a University of Chicago Medical Center physician.

Fisher’s nearly $627,000 in contributions include $2,500 from William Daley, brother of former Mayor Richard M. Daley and a former chief of staff to President Barack Obama. Another $1,000 came from Diana Rauner, wife of former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Singer John Legend made contributions totaling $5,000.

Fisher’s campaign had about $455,000 cash on hand by the start of the year.

“I think that my success in fundraising is a reflection of folks with an appetite for newness,” Fisher said.

Ford raised some $407,000 for his campaign last year. His own money accounts for about a quarter of that. He entered January with more than $307,000 on hand.

City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin raised more than $336,000 for her federal campaign last year and had nearly $217,000 on hand. But she has a state campaign war chest, almost twice as big, at her disposal to boost her profile in the congressional district.

Conyears-Ervin has also received federal support from Chicago real estate magnate Elzie Higginbottom and Alex Pissios, the former owner of Cinespace studios, who served as a government mole to bring down one of the city’s most powerful labor bosses.

Conyears-Ervin is also benefiting from a reported ad buy from the United Democracy Project, a pro-Israel super PAC.

Former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin has raised more than $328,000 for his campaign and had about $105,000 on hand to start this year. Chicago businessman Willie Wilson gave $3,500, the maximum individual contribution for one cycle, primary or general.

Sizable hauls were also reported by former Federal Trade Commission attorney Reed Showalter ($253,569), Services Employees International Union-backed police accountability official Anthony Driver Jr. ($175 651), Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins ($160,607) and immigrant rights organizer Anabel Mendoza ($128,645).