La Shawn K. Ford

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La Shawn Ford
Image of La Shawn Ford
Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Tenure

2007 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

18

Compensation

Base salary

$89,250/year

Per diem

$166/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Loyola University, Chicago

Personal
Profession
Real Estate Entrepreneur
Contact

La Shawn Ford (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing District 8. He assumed office in 2007. His current term ends on January 13, 2027.

Ford (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 8. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

La Shawn K. Ford graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor's of science and then taught in the Chicago public school system. His career experience includes being a real estate broker and insurance agent as well as the co-founder of West Side Heroin Task Force. Ford was the 2018 recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Justice Honoree. He was first elected in 2007 to represent the 8th District.[1]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Ford was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Ford was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Ford was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Illinois committee assignments, 2017
Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education
Appropriations-Human Services
Financial Institutions, Chair
Higher Education
Insurance: Property & Casualty
Restorative Justice, Chair
Tourism, Hospitality, and Craft Industries, Vice chair
Veterans' Affairs

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford defeated Leslie Collazo in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford (D)
 
75.2
 
29,352
Image of Leslie Collazo
Leslie Collazo (R)
 
24.8
 
9,682

Total votes: 39,034
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford
 
100.0
 
9,769

Total votes: 9,769
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ford in this election.

2022

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford defeated Thomas Hurley in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford (D)
 
75.5
 
22,187
Image of Thomas Hurley
Thomas Hurley (R) Candidate Connection
 
24.5
 
7,195

Total votes: 29,382
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford
 
100.0
 
9,963

Total votes: 9,963
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford (D)
 
100.0
 
36,932

Total votes: 36,932
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford
 
100.0
 
18,036

Total votes: 18,036
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2019

See also: Mayoral election in Chicago, Illinois (2019)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of Chicago

Lori Lightfoot defeated Toni Preckwinkle in the general runoff election for Mayor of Chicago on April 2, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot (Nonpartisan)
 
73.7
 
386,039
Image of Toni Preckwinkle
Toni Preckwinkle (Nonpartisan)
 
26.3
 
137,765

Total votes: 523,804
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for Mayor of Chicago

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Chicago on February 26, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot (Nonpartisan)
 
17.5
 
97,667
Image of Toni Preckwinkle
Toni Preckwinkle (Nonpartisan)
 
16.0
 
89,343
Image of Bill Daley
Bill Daley (Nonpartisan)
 
14.8
 
82,294
Image of Willie Wilson
Willie Wilson (Nonpartisan)
 
10.6
 
59,072
Image of Susana Mendoza
Susana Mendoza (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
9.0
 
50,373
Image of Amara Enyia
Amara Enyia (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
8.0
 
44,589
Image of Jerry Joyce
Jerry Joyce (Nonpartisan)
 
7.2
 
40,099
Image of Gery Chico
Gery Chico (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
6.2
 
34,521
Image of Paul Vallas
Paul Vallas (Nonpartisan)
 
5.4
 
30,236
Image of Garry McCarthy
Garry McCarthy (Nonpartisan)
 
2.7
 
14,784
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford (Nonpartisan)
 
1.0
 
5,606
Image of Bob Fioretti
Bob Fioretti (Nonpartisan)
 
0.8
 
4,302
Image of John Kozlar
John Kozlar (Nonpartisan)
 
0.4
 
2,349
Image of Neal Sáles-Griffin
Neal Sáles-Griffin (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
1,523
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
86

Total votes: 556,844
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford (D)
 
100.0
 
31,923

Total votes: 31,923
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford
 
100.0
 
15,419

Total votes: 15,419
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.[2]

Incumbent La Shawn K. Ford ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 8 general election.[3][4]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png La Shawn K. Ford Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Incumbent La Shawn K. Ford ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 8 Democratic primary.[5][6]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png La Shawn K. Ford Incumbent (unopposed)


2014

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Incumbent La Shawn K. Ford ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8][9]

2012

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2012

Ford won election in the 2012 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8. Ford was unopposed in the March 20 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[10][11][12]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 8, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLa Shawn K. Ford Incumbent 100% 37,824
Total Votes 37,824

2010

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2010

Ford won re-election to the 8th District Seat in 2010 with no opposition. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on February 2nd. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[13]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png La Shawn Ford (D) 23,179 100.0%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Democrat La Shawn Ford won re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives District 8. He ran unopposed receiving 34,666 votes.[14]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png La Shawn Ford (D) 34,666

2006

On November 7, 2006, Democrat La Shawn Ford won election to the Illinois House of Representatives District 8 receiving 21,057 votes ahead of Republican Glenn Harris (2,975 votes), and Nathan Paul Helsabeck (G) who received 1,157 votes.[15]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (2006)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png La Shawn Ford (D) 21,057
Glenn Harris (R) 2,975
Nathan Paul Helsabeck (G) 1,157

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Chicago 2019 Candidate Survey

La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's Chicago candidates survey for 2019.

Campaign website

The following themes were found on Ford's 2019 campaign website.

EQUITY IN EDUCATION

  • Recruit, support, and retain high-quality, culturally competent teachers
  • Invest in Chicago educators through tuition reimbursement programs, on-going professional development, and home-buying incentives
  • Expand CPS wrap-around services for students and families, including counseling, school-based health, arts, sports, and other enrichment activities
  • Convert closed Chicago Public Schools into community centers
  • Expand adult education opportunities through technical and trade schools
  • Invest in early childhood education and community-based preschools
  • Provide students with exposure to diverse career opportunities and workforce development programs

INCLUSIVE ECONOMY

  • Create a connected workforce by developing the technical skills of Chicago residents
  • Establish a social investment fund to promote community entrepreneurship
  • Revitalize vacant and abandoned properties to develop affordable housing
  • Create paths towards homeownership through innovative financing options for Chicago residents
  • Expand adult education opportunities through technical and trade schools
  • Eliminate current fee structures that financially burden city residents (e.g. red light cameras, boots, and high/disproportionate property taxes)
  • Establish Chicago as an advanced manufacturing hub and leader in green technology
  • Develop a comprehensive quality of life plan for ex-offenders to reduce recidivism and promote full economic and social integration
  • Collaborate with state and federal government to increase the amount of returning federal dollars, growing the city’s revenue base without increasing taxes

SAFER COMMUNITIES

  • Establish an Office of Violence Prevention to reduce systemic inequities, measure impact, and coordinate community efforts
  • Expand mental health services and fund holistic health programs
  • Increase investment in Chicago Park Districts, community centers, youth employment and entrepreneurship programs
  • Explore alternative models for community safety and expand restorative justice initiatives
  • Enhance police training protocols and renegotiate commitments between community members and police to restore healthy, respectful relationships

HEALTH & QUALITY OF LIFE

  • Promote universal health care – make Chicago the most insured city in the nation
  • Become “The City that Moves” by funding active lifestyle programs and expanding outdoor recreation across communities
  • Create a comprehensive community recycling programs
  • Invest in public transportation infrastructure to reduce commute times
  • Address the heroin/opioid addiction crisis

TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

  • Establish an elected representative school board
  • Support the creation of a Civilian Police Accountability Council
  • Immediate moratorium on new TIFs – improve TIF laws to ensure equity
  • Invest in public transportation infrastructure to reduce commute times
  • Implement fair contracting process[16]
—La Shawn Ford's 2019 campaign website[17]

2014

Ford's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[18]

  • Improving education
    • Excerpt: "Education is the key to future success and a strong economy. We must work to expand educational opportunities for all students in Illinois and throughout the nation. The future of our country depends on the education we provide to our children today, and we must invest in them."
  • Improving health
    • Excerpt: "The health and wellness of the American people reflects the health of our nation, physically but also financially. Health care costs are increasing at a rate that is making it hard for families and businesses to keep up. And it’s getting in the way of our ability to compete as a nation in an increasingly global economy. Prescription drug costs and insurance premiums are squeezing families and leaving more Americans without adequate health coverage. I am committed to improving the health of our country now and in the years to come."
  • Preventing foreclosures
  • Improving community life
    • Excerpt: "Strong neighborhoods foster strong families, strong businesses, and strong individuals."
  • Veterans support
  • Building cross-cultural bridges
  • Citizenship

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


La Shawn Ford campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Illinois House of Representatives District 8Won general$123,894 $126,073
2022Illinois House of Representatives District 8Won general$191,685 $181,506
2020Illinois House of Representatives District 8Won general$93,551 N/A**
2018Illinois House of Representatives District 8Won general$79,638 N/A**
2016Illinois House of Representatives, District 8Won $84,554 N/A**
2014Illinois House of Representatives, District 8Won $75,424 N/A**
2012Illinois State House, District 8Won $37,772 N/A**
2010Illinois State House, District 8Won $38,457 N/A**
2008Illinois State House, District 8Won $54,840 N/A**
2006Illinois State House, District 8Won $241,822 N/A**
2000Illinois State House, District 8Lost $0 N/A**
1998Illinois State House, District 8Lost $7,535 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Illinois

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Illinois scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012

Noteworthy events

Bank fraud charges

On Thursday, November 29, 2012, Ford was indicted by a federal grand jury on seventeen counts, comprised of eight counts of bank fraud and nine counts of providing the bank with false information. Ford allegedly claimed to banks that he was taking loans out for his company, Ford Desired Real Estate, Inc., and for his own real estate investments, but then used the money for other purposes, including credit card payments and campaign-related expenses. Ford also allegedly submitted false tax returns for inspection by a bank that inflated his income, allowing him to qualify for a credit-line extension and about $500,000 more in loans. If Ford was convicted, each count had a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A trial date was set for April 22, 2014.[21][22][23]

On August 4, 2014, Ford pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor tax count in exchange for prosecutors dropping the 17 felony charges against him. The dropped felony charges meant Ford was not forced to resign his seat.[24] On November 7, he was sentenced to six months' probation and 100 hours of community service.[25]

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ford has one child. He is a member of the Austin Young Men's Christian Association Board, Austin Chamber of Commerce Board, Chicago Association of Realtors, Circle Family Care, National Association of Realtors, Finance Committee/Parish Council of Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church, and Founding Organizer of the Zawadi Youth Group.[26]


See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. "Illinois General Assembly", "Representative La Shawn K. Ford," accessed March 3, 2020
  2. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar," accessed November 30, 2015
  3. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate list: General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
  4. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election results, General election 2016," accessed December 15, 2016
  5. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed January 3, 2016
  6. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
  7. Illinois Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
  8. Illinois Board of Elections, "General Primary Election Official Canvass," April 18, 2014
  9. Illinois Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
  10. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed December 5, 2011
  11. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed May 14, 2014
  12. Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed January 18, 2013
  13. Illinois Elections Division, "Illinois Official 2010 General Election Results," November 2, 2010
  14. Illinois House of Representatives official election results for 2008
  15. Illinois House of Representatives official election results for 2006
  16. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  17. La Shawn Ford's 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 18, 2019
  18. Personal website, "Issues and Legislation," accessed February 21, 2014
  19. Citizen Action Illinois, "99th General Assembly Legislative Scorecard 2016," accessed July 11, 2017
  20. Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities, "2016 Illinois Community Living Report," accessed July 11, 2017
  21. Capital Fax, "This just in… Rep. Ford indicted for bank fraud," November 29, 2012
  22. Chicago Tribune, "Rep. LaShawn Ford indicted on bank fraud charges," November 29, 2012
  23. oakpark.com, "Trial date set for Ford's federal bank fraud case," accessed February 21, 2014
  24. Chicago Tribune, "Surprising plea deal in state Rep. Ford's bank fraud case," August 4, 2014
  25. ABC 7 Chicago, "LaShawn Ford sentenced to probation," November 7, 2014
  26. Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Ford," accessed February 21, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Illinois House of Representatives District 8
2007-Present
Succeeded by
-


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