U.S. House · Illinois's 8th District
Jennifer Davis
CandidateR
- Race
- U.S. House · Illinois's 8th District
- Result
- Melissa Bean, projected winner
- Opponent
- Melissa Bean (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Jennifer Davis, a Republican technology entrepreneur who reported no previous political experience, lost the November 3, 2026 election for U.S. House in Illinois's 8th District to Melissa Bean. She co-founded the software company Davisware and later launched BExponential.[1][2][3][4][5]
Biography
Jennifer Davis, a Republican technology entrepreneur who reported no previous political experience, lost the November 3, 2026 election for U.S. House in Illinois's 8th District to Melissa Bean. She co-founded the software company Davisware and later launched BExponential.[1][2][3][4][5]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Davis describes herself as having co-founded the service-technology software company Davisware with her husband, Dan, at age 17 and growing it into a global company.[2] According to her Ballotpedia survey, she guided Davisware through the pandemic and a partnership with Serent Capital, then launched BExponential, a business to help women thrive personally and professionally.[2] She also wrote a book, "Living Exponentially in Life and Business."[2]
Davis describes herself as a mother of ten, a coach of dozens of youth teams and a community servant with rural values of hard work, faith and family.[2] She won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary with 51.4% of the vote, ahead of Mark Rice (40.2%), Kevin Ake and Herbert Hebein.[1] Her survey listed affordability, support for small businesses and entrepreneurs, cybersecurity, and a proposed "Digital Dome" cyber defense program among her key messages.[2] She received 35.9% of the vote to Melissa Bean's 64.1%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[5]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says affordability is the top issue in the district and pledges to cut federal taxes on working families and ease regulations on small businesses.[6]
- Says she would champion policies to help small businesses, which she says employ 44% of Illinois's workforce, by cutting taxes and streamlining regulations.[6]
- Proposes a "Digital Dome" national cybersecurity shield to protect families and the military from cyberattacks and online predators, and supports expanding U.S. oil, gas and renewable energy production.[6]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
“Real reform begins with securing the border — fully and effectively.”[7]
In her WTTW 2026 voter guide answers
- Expand public health coverage
“My top priority is empowering patients and providers with choices, not more government mandates, to make quality care affordable.”[7]
In her WTTW 2026 voter guide answers
- Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
“She supports a range of educational options—public, charter, private, or home schools—so families can choose what works best for their children.”[8]
On her campaign website
- Increase police funding and staffing
“Families in Illinois deserve safe neighborhoods where law enforcement has the resources—not red tape—to do its job.”[8]
On her campaign website
- Faster transition away from fossil fuels
“By expanding American oil, gas, and renewable production, Jennifer will reduce reliance on adversarial nations, protect our economy, and save families hundreds at the pump.”[8]
On her campaign website
- Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
“My approach to tax policy is simple: cut taxes across the board to unleash economic growth.”[7]
In her WTTW 2026 voter guide answers
Campaign money$1.5M raised · 31% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $462K
- PACs & committees $14K
- Own money & loans $1.0M
Largest committee contributions
- Value in Electing Women Political Action Committee PAC$5,000
- A Brthd Aimed Toward Educ of Il Fed Elec Device for Politically Active Motorcyclists... PAC$2,500
- Abraham Lincoln PAC PAC$2,500
- Space Coast Leadership PAC PAC$2,000
- Air Conditioning Contractors of America PAC PAC$1,000
- Cgcn PAC PAC$1,000
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/jennifer-davis-il
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Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Illinois' 8th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.Jennifer Davis Candidate Connection survey response · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 3.Jennifer Davis (Illinois) · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 4.Jennifer Davis - 2026 Primary Voter Guide · WTTW News · 2026-03-17 News report
- 5.U.S. House, Illinois's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 6.Jennifer Davis Candidate Connection survey response · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 7.Jennifer Davis - 2026 General Election Voter Guide · WTTW News News report
- 8.Issues · Jennifer Davis for Congress campaign website · 2026-10-03 Candidate's own words