The Illinois 9th District primary primary race has seen two progressive candidates vying for the Democratic Party's vacant seat, with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Kat Abughazaleh supporting Palestinian statehood and opposing unrestricted U.S. arms transfers to Israel. The third candidate, state Sen. Laura Fine, is supported by the Israel lobby and is running on her legislative record. Despite this, Fine's net favorable rating has dropped by 23 points in just over two weeks, making her the least popular of the three leading candidates in a district where she is a state senator. Outside spending by AIPAC-affiliated super PAC like Elect Chicago Women has fueled the race, with ads promoting Fine and attacking her rivals. The backlash in the 9th district is particularly noticeable among younger voters, who tend to be more pro-Palestinian than younger voters. The issue of Israel-Palestine conflict has been a key issue for older, educated Democrats and signals a shift in the party's focus on the shift towards Israel. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is positioning himself for 2028 as an opposition to former Vice President Kamala Harris' cautious ambiguity on Israel, has also been highlighted by his comments on the issue.