Chad Koppie

Chad Koppie is the Republican nominee for Illinois' 7th District, an open seat.[1][2] A former Delta Air Lines jet captain and farmer, he has served on local school boards and as a township trustee, has run for office repeatedly, and was the Republican candidate in this district in 2022 and 2024 before winning the March 2026 primary over Patricia Easley, 65% to 35%.[1][2]

Koppie attended aviation school at Purdue University and worked as a jet captain with Delta Airlines and as a farmer; Ballotpedia lists his profession as farmer.[1] He has served as a member of the Kane County Regional Board of Schools, a board member of the Illinois Forum, a township trustee and a local school board member.[1]

Koppie was chosen at the Constitution Party's March 2018 nominating convention as its lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, and Ballotpedia lists him as a Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020.[1] In 2022 he ran in the Republican primary for Illinois' 8th District, which Chris Dargis won, and was a candidate in the 2022 general election in the 7th District, which Rep. Danny K. Davis won.[1] He was the unopposed Republican primary winner in March 2024 and received 16.7% of the vote against Davis in the November 2024 general election.[1] Koppie won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary over Patricia Easley and is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the open seat.[1][2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.