Democrat Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is planning to retire at the end of May after 14 terms and will not seek re-election.
The 80-year-old was first elected to represent the people of the 9th congressional district of Illinois in 1999, Breitbart reported.
“I’m going to announce my plans on May 5th. Stay tuned,” Schakowsky initially said about her decision to retire rather than seek reelection in 2026.
In a later post on X, Schakowsky hinted at this eventuality.
“I have not made a decision about my plans for re-election – I will make that decision in the coming weeks and announce on May 5,” Schakowsky wrote.
Her post to social media came after Politico broke the news of her retirement.
I have not made a decision about my plans for re-election – I will make that decision in the coming weeks and announce on May 5.
— Jan Schakowsky (@RepSchakowsky) April 23, 2025
With her departure, Schakowsky leaves behind a legacy of leftism befitting of an Illinois liberal.
She won her seat after a three-way primary for the Democrats in 1998.
Schakowsky beat J.B. Pritzker, who is the state’s current governor.
During the 2009 debate over Obamacare, Schakowsky