W E D N E S D A Y
March 4, 2026 Vol. 46, No. 35
$2.00
@wednesdayjournalinc
@wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL @oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
Special section Page 15
Progressive lane in the 7th is crowded D97 parents
want added supports for migrant students and families
Will voters coalesce around one of four progressive candidates? By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Progressive activists in Oak Park and the West Side are split in whom they are supporting in the wide open Democratic primary race to succeed Danny Davis as the congressperson from the 7th Congressional District. Four young progressive activists are running in the 13-candidate field in the March 17 Democratic primary. They are Kina Collins, who at the age of 34 is making her fourth run for Congress; 32-year-old Oak Park native Reed Showalter; 32-year-old labor leader Anthony Driver and 28-year-old Anabel Mendoza. Collins seems to have the most support among Oak Park progressive activists. Last week nine Oak Park elected officials, including two Oak Park Village Board members and five members of the Oak Park Public Library board endorsed Collins. “I think she has the campaign infrastructure and the strategy to win and I think in such a crowded race I think that’s an important factor to consider,” said Oak Park Village Board member Derek Eder who is supporting Collins along with his colleague Jenna Leving Jacobson. See 7TH DISTRICT on page 10
Board members welcome concerns, ask for more dialogue By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
TODD BANNOR
Kina Collins speaks at protest against the U.S. attack on Iran hosted by her congressional campaign in Scoville Park in Oak Park on March 1.
Fourteen members of the Oak Park community, most of them parents of elementary and middle school students attending Oak Park Elementary School District 97 schools, made public comments at the Feb. 24 District 97 school board meeting urging district officials to take further steps to protect students from enhanced federal action targeting undocuSee MIGRANTS on page 28
Follow us on Instagram! @wednesdayjournal Top stories, local government, features, events, dining, art, and sports right at your fingertips!