Donna Miller wins Illinois 2nd District seat
The Cook County commissioner and former healthcare executive defeated Republican Mike Noack and independent write-in Ashley Banks to replace Robin Kelly in the U.S. House.
By Rafael Bailey ·
Donna Miller declared victory on Tuesday night in Chicago Heights, securing the U.S. House seat for Illinois' 2nd Congressional District. The win places the Democrat in Congress to succeed Robin Kelly, who left the office in 2026 after a unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.
The district extends south from Chicago's South Side through the suburban areas of Kankakee and Danville. Miller, a Cook County commissioner and former healthcare executive, won the primary earlier in the cycle by defeating candidates that included Jesse Jackson Jr.
Her opponent, Republican Mike Noack, is a truck driver from a small town west of Kankakee. Noack stated he has never held political office before and cited his wife's background in Japan as a reason to support simplifying the nation's immigration system. He noted that this specific policy is where he disagrees with the current administration.
Independent write-in candidate Ashley Banks, a former CTA bus driver and freelance journalist from Chicago, also contested the race. Banks said she moved to Kankakee to better understand the concerns of downstate residents. She had not run for political office prior to this election.
Miller, who resides in the south suburbs, noted her family history traces back to a small farm in Champaign County. ABC News projected that Democrats will win enough seats nationwide to gain control of the House.
The result concludes a contest for the seat that Kelly represented since 2012. Miller will now assume the role of federal representative for the region.
