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Laura Fine

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Laura Fine
Fine in 2018
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2019
Preceded byDaniel Biss
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 17th district
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 6, 2019
Preceded byDaniel Biss
Succeeded byJennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Personal details
Born (1966-12-13) December 13, 1966 (age 59)
Skokie, Illinois, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseMichael
Children2
EducationIndiana University, Bloomington (BA)
Northeastern Illinois University (MA)

Laura Fine (born December 13, 1966) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Illinois Senate from the 9th district since 2019, representing parts of Chicago and several North Shore suburbs in Cook County.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented the 17th district in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. In 2025, Fine announced her candidacy for Illinois's 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives and sought to succeed Representative Jan Schakowsky in the 2026 U.S. House elections, placing third behind Evanston mayor Daniel Biss and social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh.

Early life and education

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Fine grew up in Glenview in a Jewish household.[2] She graduated from Glenbrook South High School and later attended Indiana University, graduating in 1985 with a B.A. in telecommunications. Fine received a master's degree in political science from Northeastern Illinois University.[3]

Political career

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Fine represented the 17th district of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019[4] and served as Northfield Township Clerk from 2009 to 2012.[5]

On July 28, 2017, Fine announced her intention to run for the state senate seat being vacated by Daniel Biss. After running unopposed in the primary, Fine won the 2018 general election.[6] She took office on January 6, 2019.[7]

Fine is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees:[8]

  • Behavioral and Mental Health (Chair)
  • Insurance (Vice-chair)
  • Environment and Conservation
  • Health and Human Services
  • Judiciary
  • Public Health
  • Worker's Compensation

Fine serves as the chair of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus, whose mission is to create policies to restore and protect the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River basin.[9]

2026 congressional campaign

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Main article: 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois § District 9

On May 6, 2025, Fine announced that she would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 9th congressional district, seeking to succeed retiring incumbent Jan Schakowsky. The field also included Evanston mayor Daniel Biss, journalist and social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh, former FBI agent Phil Andrew, and eleven other candidates.[10] The Chicago Tribune said of the race that "what might once have been a largely local affair has become a fight about the political party’s direction as much as constituent issues in the district."[11]

Fine received over 100 endorsements from political figures and organizations,[12] including congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10),[13] former congresswoman Cheri Bustos, the left-leaning PAC Elect Democratic Women,[14] the Daily Herald,[15] and the Chicago Tribune.[16] Fine did not seek AIPAC's endorsement,[17] although individual AIPAC donors, contributed to her campaign.[18] AIPAC board President Michael Tuchin hosted a fundraiser on her behalf,[19] and a Super PAC associated with AIPAC spent over a million dollars in ads supporting her campaign.[20][21][22][23] A few weeks before the March 17 primary, Biss and Fine began trading accusations over campaign finance misconduct, and both campaigns announced that surrogates filed complaints against the other with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).[24]

According to The Daily Northwestern, "In her congressional run, Fine has most expounded upon her achievements in the healthcare and insurance sectors, which she claimed have made Illinois one of the most 'consumer-friendly' states."[25]

Daniel Biss won the primary election, securing 29.6% of the vote in the field of 15 candidates. Fine finished in third.[26]

Political positions

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Environment

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In March 2025, Fine introduced legislation that would ban styrofoam containers from being sold in the state beginning in 2030. The bill makes an exception for egg cartons, and manufacturers will still be able to export the containers outside of Illinois.[27] As of March 2026, this bill had not yet become law.[28] Fine also sponsored legislation in 2023 to phase out "forever chemicals" from firefighting foam.[29] She told The Loyola Phoenix that she sees a connection between green energy adoption and union jobs, and that she would work towards fully transitioning the United States away from fossil fuels in the future.[30]

LGBT rights

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In 2021, Fine introduced legislation that would make it easier for transgender people to change the gender designation on their birth certificates. A different version of this bill was signed into law in 2023.[31][32] Fine said she opposes federal legislation to ban gender-affirming care for children.[11]

Israel

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Jewish Insider described her political platform as being strongly pro-Israel.[2] In a position paper obtained by the news outlet, Fine said Israel is “more than just a strategic ally, it is a beacon of democracy in one of the world’s most volatile regions.” Additionally, she said she "fully support[s] the current portfolio of U.S. security assistance to Israel, including the $3.8 billion annual commitment [...], which includes critical funding for weapons systems." She added that she does “not support additional conditions on aid to Israel, militarily or otherwise.”[33] Fine told The Loyola Phoenix that Israel hasn't committed genocide in Gaza, but has committed unacceptable collective punishment. She also said that she supports a two-state solution.[30] Fine told The Daily Northwestern that she was a longtime participant in Hands of Peace, an interfaith nonprofit connecting Israeli, Palestinian and American youth for extensive dialogue programs over the summer, and that this was "crucial to her belief in a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians."[25]

Immigration

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Fine told the Daily Herald that ICE should be abolished and referred to its agents as "Trump’s private army."[34] She also introduced legislation in the Illinois Senate that would ban ICE agents from becoming law enforcement officers in Illinois.[35] As of March 2026, it had not yet received a vote.[36]

Healthcare

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The Loyola Phoenix reported that Fine supports legal access to abortion.[30] In 2023, she sponsored a bill that gave Illinois insurance regulators authority to review health insurance rate changes. Fine said this would "make the pricing of health insurance more transparent to consumers and give regulators the ability to determine whether consumers are being overcharged."[37] Fine told the Chicago Sun-Times that she supports programs like Medicare for All.[38] She also told The Daily Northwestern that her "next ambition is to lay the groundwork for a Medicare for All single-payer national health insurance system."[25]

Fine played a role in establishing and chairing the Illinois Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Daily Northwestern said that the committee has helped establish mental health parity in the state, which requires insurance to cover both mental and physical health care.[25]

War with Iran

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In the position paper obtained by Jewish Insider, which was written before the start of the 2026 Iran war, Fine said she supported military action and "The stakes are too high to tolerate halfway measures."[33] Ηοwever, after the strikes began, she released a statement saying, "Trump needed to be reined in and impeached."[11]

Assyrian community

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Fine has emphasized the significance of the Assyrian community in the district. She voiced support for the official recognition of 1915 Sayfo Genocide targeting the Syriac, Greek, and Armenian peoples. She expressed support for the return of Syriac families to their historic homeland and backed the implementation of Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees administrative and cultural rights for ethnic minorities, including the establishment of a self-governing safe area in Nineveh Plains.[12]

Personal life

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Fine and her husband, Michael, have two sons.[39] She first ran for office after her husband was in a car accident and their health insurance policy was canceled.[38] After almost facing bankruptcy, Fine studied and received an insurance license to better understand the industry behind her family's struggles.[25]

Electoral Results

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2026 U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois's 9th Congressional District - Democratic primary results[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Biss 36,781 29.6
Democratic Kat Abughazaleh 32,271 25.9
Democratic Laura Fine 25,326 20.3
Democratic Mike Simmons 8,647 7.0
Democratic Phil Andrew 7,709 6.2
Democratic Bushra Amiwala 6,240 5.0
Democratic Hoan Huynh 2,174 1.8
Democratic Patricia Brown 1,600 1.3
Democratic Jeff Cohen 1,041 0.8
Democratic Justin Ford 748 0.6
Democratic Bethany Johnson 613 0.5
Democratic Sam Polan 508 0.4
Democratic Howard Rosenblum 296 0.2
Democratic Nick Pyati 227 0.2
Democratic Mark Fredrickson 213 0.2
Total votes 124,201 100.0

References

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  1. ^ "Illinois State Senate District 9". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Kassel, Matthew (May 6, 2025). "Schakowsky retirement sets up Illinois Democratic primary battle over Mideast policy". Jewish Insider. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  3. ^ "About Laura". Laura Fine for State Rep - 17th District Illinois. January 16, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  4. ^ Robb, Tom (January 9, 2013). "Biss Fine Take Oath One Day Early". Journal & Topics. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Laura Fine – 2026 Primary Election". WTTW. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  6. ^ Miller, Rich (July 28, 2017). "Rep. Fine to run for Biss seat". Capitol Fax. Springfield, Illinois. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "Fine sworn in as State Senator". Illinois Senate Democrats. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  8. ^ System, Legislative Information (June 14, 2024). "Official Government Website of the Illinois General Assembly". ilga.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  9. ^ "About the GLLC - Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus". gllc.csgmidwest.org. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  10. ^ Olander, Olivia (May 6, 2025). "Glenview state Sen. Laura Fine joins race to replace US Rep. Jan Schakowsky". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c "Big money and national issues collide in 'quarter-century opportunity' to succeed US Rep. Jan Schakowsky". Chicago Tribune. March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  12. ^ a b SyriacPress (March 9, 2026). "Assyrian American PAC endorses Illinois State Senator Laura Fine for US Congress". SyriacPress. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  13. ^ Kapos, Shia (February 6, 2026). "Harmon slows Pritzker's pension push". POLITICO. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  14. ^ Kapos, Shia (January 22, 2026). "Illinois House Dems torch Trump". POLITICO. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  15. ^ "Our Choice for Democrats in Congress District 9". www.dailyherald.com. February 19, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Editorial: Laura Fine for Democratic nomination in 9th Congressional District". Chicago Tribune. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  17. ^ Lacy, Akela; Valdez, Jonah (December 16, 2025). "AIPAC Head Hosts Fundraiser for House Candidate Who Swears AIPAC Isn't Backing Her". The Intercept. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  18. ^ Dayen, David; Grim, Ryan (February 6, 2026). "AIPAC Coordinates Donors in Illinois House Primaries". The American Prospect. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  19. ^ Lacey, Akela; Valdez, Jonah (December 16, 2026). "AIPAC Head Hosts Fundraiser for House Candidate Who Swears AIPAC Isn't Backing Her". The Intercept. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  20. ^ Kapos, Shia (February 25, 2026). "AIPAC's cash complicates crowded Illinois primaries". Politico. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  21. ^ Lacey, Akela (February 17, 2026). "AIPAC Is Flooding Illinois With Cash. Pro-Palestine Groups Are Backing Kat Abughazaleh". The Intercept. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  22. ^ Eadie, Matthew (February 4, 2026). "Who's behind the new Super PAC ads on TV?". Evanston Now. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  23. ^ Vakil, Caroline (February 12, 2026). "Progressive groups back Abughazaleh in crowded Dem field for Illinois House seat". The Hill. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  24. ^ Harrison, Alex (February 25, 2026). "Biss and Fine campaigns trade accusations of financial misconduct". Evanston Round Table. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  25. ^ a b c d e city; Echeverria, Marisa Guerra (March 4, 2026). "Laura Fine looks to 'get things done,' emphasizes legislative experience". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  26. ^ Moore, Elena (March 17, 2026). "Daniel Biss wins Democratic primary for closely-watched Illinois House seat". NPR. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  27. ^ Diakite, Moussa (March 26, 2025). "Manufacturers would stop selling Styrofoam containers under Illinois bill". WCIA. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  28. ^ "Senate Bill 1531". LegiScan.
  29. ^ Schoonover, Andrew Adams, Nika (May 18, 2023). "UPDATED: Environmental bills seek to improve soil health, ban state use of polystyrene foam containers". Capitol News Illinois. Retrieved March 3, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ a b c Steffens, Jackson (October 22, 2025). "Congressional Catch-up: Laura Fine | The Loyola Phoenix". Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  31. ^ Olsen, Dean. "Bill allowing gender changes to birth certificates without doctor's note stalls in Senate". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  32. ^ "release". www.illinois.gov. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  33. ^ a b Rod, Marc (February 25, 2026). "Laura Fine champions pro-Israel record in position paper". Jewish Insider. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  34. ^ Lissau, Russell (February 12, 2026). "Many — but not all — 9th Congressional District Democratic candidates say abolish ICE". www.dailyherald.com. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  35. ^ Schneider, Scott (February 4, 2026). "New bill would ban ICE agents from becoming law enforcement officers in Illinois". FOX 32 Chicago. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  36. ^ "Senate Bill 2820". LegiScan.
  37. ^ Illinois, Capitol News (June 28, 2023). "Pritzker signs bills altering Illinois' health insurance market - IPM Newsroom". Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  38. ^ a b Sfondeles, Tina (February 25, 2026). "Crowded field of 15 Democrats jockey to succeed U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  39. ^ "Representative Biography". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  40. ^ "Illinois Ninth Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
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