Melissa Bean
Melissa Bean is the Democratic nominee for the open Illinois 8th District seat, which she previously represented in Congress from 2005 to 2011. She has since worked in business, including at JPMorgan Chase and Mesirow Financial, and won the March 2026 Democratic primary.[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Key votes in Congress
- YesAffordable Care Act — final House passage · H.R. 3590 · Passed 219–212 · 2010-03-21 roll call ↗Established health-insurance marketplaces with premium subsidies, expanded Medicaid eligibility, and barred insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
On the record — official actions
- voteAs a member of Congress in 2009-2010, voted with the House Democratic leadership 90.8% of the time according to a July 2010 analysis, and voted for TARP, the 2009 stimulus bill, the auto bailout, 'Cash for Clunkers,' cap-and-trade, and the Affordable Care Act.[2]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, 2010-03-21).[5]
What they say: Voted for the Affordable Care Act while in Congress and says she would protect and strengthen it, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.[3]
- SupportsProtect legal access to abortion
Says she would work to codify Roe v. Wade protections and oppose any federal abortion ban.[3]
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Calls for greater ICE oversight and accountability, and opposes what she describes as unnecessary deployment of masked ICE agents into communities.[3]
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuels
Says she has a record of supporting science-based climate policy and will work to cut emissions and scale clean energy.[3]
- MixedRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Campaign platform emphasizes closing wealth gaps through worker profit-sharing and pension incentives, without a direct statement on raising taxes on high earners or corporations.[3]
In their words — priorities
- Says she would protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, including protections for pre-existing conditions, and allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices directly.[3]
- Says masked ICE agents have been deployed unnecessarily into communities and calls for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's firing or removal, greater ICE oversight including body cameras, and accountability for agents who exceed their authority.[3]
- Says she would codify Roe v. Wade protections, expand healthcare privacy protections, and oppose any federal abortion ban.[3]
Background
- Earned a high school diploma from Maine East High School and a bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University.[2]
- Career experience includes owning a business and serving as U.S. Representative for Illinois's 8th District from 2005 to 2011.[2]
- Has been affiliated with One Million Degrees, Junior Achievement, World Business Chicago, JPMorgan Chase and Mesirow Financial.[2]
- As a member of Congress, voted for the Affordable Care Act, TARP, the 2009 stimulus bill, the auto industry bailout, the 'Cash for Clunkers' program, and cap-and-trade climate legislation.[3]
Campaign money
Raised $2.1M · spent $1.9M · $145K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗