Bio
Jesse Louis Jackson Jr. is a Democratic candidate for Illinois' 2nd Congressional District in the March 17, 2026 primary. He previously represented this same district in Congress from 1995 to 2012, when he resigned amid a federal criminal investigation. In 2013 he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, admitting he misappropriated over $750,000 in campaign funds for personal use including furs, memorabilia, electronics, and a Rolex watch. He served approximately 2.5 years in federal prison at Butner Federal Correctional Institution in North Carolina, completing his sentence in 2015. His wife, Sandi Jackson, also pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns and served her sentence separately. Jackson's return to the ballot is notable: he frames his candidacy around delivering federal resources to the district and argues he was 'one of the most effective members of Congress, delivering nearly a billion in grants and appropriations to the District.' Eleven candidates are running in this Democratic primary; Jesse Jackson Jr., Donna Miller, Robert Peters, and Willie Preston were identified as leading fundraisers and media attention-getters as of November 2025. Jackson's FEC receipts were $288,251 with $239,393 disbursed and $48,858 cash on hand as of February 25, 2026 — behind frontrunner Donna Miller ($1.97M) and Robert Peters ($1.13M).
Prior office: U.S. Representative, IL-02 (1995–2012)