La Shawn K. Ford

Ford received his bachelor's degree in education from Loyola University.[1] His career experience includes teaching in the Chicago public school system and founding a real estate business.[1]

La Shawn Ford has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Send a message to La Shawn Ford asking him to fill out the survey.

If you are La Shawn Ford, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask La Shawn Ford to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing ford@acuitypolitics.com.

Campaign websiteFord's campaign website stated the following:Brighter days are ahead of us allI am passionate about building effective relationships as well as building bridges to success, meeting the needs of all.

-La Shawn K. Ford

Medicaid and Health Care AccessMore than 244,000 people in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District rely on Medicaid to see their doctors and other health care providers, get the preventive health care and the medications they need, and have coverage for testing and hospitalization. More than 65,000 in Illinois’ 7th rely on Medicaid through the 2014 ACA Expansion, or ObamaCare. As State Representative, I worked with community groups and authored and passed 6 laws expanding access to HIV screening, so more people living with HIV, many with Medicaid, were identified and were able to receive their medications. As a co-founder of the West Side Heroin Opioid Task Force in 2019, I have seen people finally be able to get the medications and recovery treatment they need to help them leave heroin or fentanyl behind – mostly because they have Medicaid. As a prostate cancer survivor, I introduced and passed legislation that became law which requires health insurance in Illinois to cover screening for prostate cancer without a co-pay. I also introduced a House Resolution to repeal of the 2013 Medicaid funding trigger law. Preserving and expanding access to Medicaid and health care in general will be one of my top prioirities as your congressman.

Food Prices and Food Stamps/SNAPMore than 64,000 households, or 19.9%, in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District rely on Food Stamps or SNAP for their nutritional needs. For many others, food prices are just too high. To promote healthy eating, good nutrition, and exercise, from 2008 until the COVID-19 pandemic I organized 14 consecutive HEALTH CHALLENGES for school children on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in Chicago, Oak Park, and Berwyn. I introduced legislation that became law which helps people use their SNAP benefits (Food Stamps) at Farmers’ Markets. I was also Chief House Sponsor for successful legislation that established an electronic database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools. And, I was Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database. Affordable healthy eating choices and exercise are important to all of our communities, and preserving and expanding access to Food Stamps and access to affordable healthy foods will be a continuing priority for me.

High-Quality Affordable Child CareEvery parent in the 7th District deserves access to high-quality, affordable child care for their young children. That’s why when former Governor Bruce Rauner cut childcare funding in 2015-2016, I led the charge to put $300 million back into the budget to cover the cost of child care for low-income working families. I was Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law lowering the compulsory school age in Illinois to 6 years, from 7. I introduced and passed a House Resolution which creates the Commission to Reform Child Care in Illinois, and I introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges Congress to pass legislation in support of universal childcare services for working families. I will prioritize families to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life, and that every parent can work and attend school. I believe that by working together, we can provide our children with a strong foundation through high-quality early childhood education. Every working family should have access to high-quality preschool options, regardless of their income. Providing safe and affordable child care is beneficial for both families and businesses, as it allows communities to thrive.

Affordable HousingAs a realtor since my college years, I have seen firsthand how stable housing profoundly impacts families. Homeownership isn’t just about having a place to live; it symbolizes security, stability, and the chance to build wealth for future generations. In the Illinois General Assembly, I have advocated for policies that support both homeowners and renters, recognizing the importance of balancing our housing market. To tackle homelessness and improve housing access, I introduced legislation that bans discrimination based on income sources, ensuring that people with Section 8 vouchers can find homes. I also urged Congress to act against residential foreclosures and set up a Foreclosure Prevention Task Force on the West Side of Chicago during the 2011 housing crisis. I believe our path to lower rents involves building strong public-private partnerships to develop more affordable housing options. By fostering collaboration among developers, landlords, and community organizations, we can ensure accessible housing for all families. Let’s commit to policies that create economic opportunities, safeguard housing stability, and end homelessness in our communities. Together, we can make affordable housing a reality for everyone.

College Affordability and EducationAs a 6th and 7th grade social studies teacher for 6 years, I saw great potential in my students, and I love catching up with them and seeing what they are doing now. With my daughter now in college, I am well aware of the challenges of college affordability. And, as Illinois House of Representatives Chair of Appropriations for Higher Education, we were able to achieve historic increases in funding in FY26 for student financial aid, our 9 public universities, and our community colleges, totaling more than $2.73 billion. In 2022, I secured $9 million in extra funding for campus mental health services. I was Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law in 2014 lowering the compulsory school age in Illinois to 6 years, from 7. I was co-sponsor of legislation which became law which requires at least one semester of civics in grades 6,7, or 8. And in 2014, I was elected as Community Representative on the Local School Council (LSC) of George Rogers Clark Elementary School in the South Austin Community where I live. Making college and trade schools more affordable and expanding high-quality educational opportunities remain high on my list of priorities.

Jobs and the EconomyI bought and sold my first building when I was in college, and I started my own real estate business while I was still a teacher. I have a deep understanding of the joys and the challenges of being a small business owner, and I know how vital small businesses are to the vibrancy of our communities. People want an opportunity to work, to open their own businesses, and to support their families. For 17 years, my state rep office has sent out daily emails with job listings, through which thousands have found jobs. I introduced the State Employment Application Act (Ban the Box) that now is the practice, and I also introduced legislation that became law which gives returning citizens/ex-offenders the opportunity to seal criminal records. I created and was named Chair of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee, and I introduced legislation that became law establishing a micro-loan small business program for qualified ex-offenders. To decrease homelessness, I introduced legislation that became law that prohibits discrimination based on the source of their income for people looking to rent an apartment. We have so much more to do to grow job opportunities, promote our small businesses, and expand opportunities to have your own home – these are the challenges we will seize.

Voting Rights and Civil RightsVoting rights and civil rights are the foundation on which our civil society rests. I Introduced and passed a House Resolution urging Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make all its provisions permanent. I also introduced and passed a House Joint Resolution which supports amending the United States Constitution to explicitly guarantee an individual's right to vote. I introduced legislation that became law stating the State of Illinois ratifies the agreement among the states to elect the President by National Popular Vote, to ensure that the candidate with the most votes is elected President of the United States. I introduced the No Representation Without Population Act, that became a law which provides for a process of using prison inmates’ most recent known address prior to incarceration for purposes of redistricting legislative districts. To increase transparency, I was the Chief Co-sponsor of legislation that became law that requires Illinois corporations to report on the representation of women and minorities on corporate boards. In this time of our history, we need to strongly uphold our voting rights and our civil rights. As Fannie Lou Hamer said and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. emphasized, "Nobody's free until everybody's free".

Supporting Our 7th District CommunitiesStrong and healthy communities have strong and healthy institutions such as parks, libraries, and schools. I have been honored to work with community groups to secure major funding for great projects in Chicago, Oak Park, Berwyn, Brookfield, North Riverside, La Grange, La Grange Park, and neighboring communities. Strong communities also recognize and honor great people who inspire us to greater action. I have passed House Joint Resolutions that designates a portion of Cicero Avenue as “Mandela Road”; that designates the portion of Roosevelt Road as “Muhammad Ali Road; and that designates part of Interstate 55 as "Barack Obama Presidential Expressway”. I introduced and passed legislation which became law (before Juneteenth was declared a National Holiday) which provides that Juneteenth National Freedom Day shall be observed as a holiday throughout Illinois. For eighteen consecutive years, I have organized our Family Health Challenge honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on his holiday. I served on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts Pathway to Adventure Council of Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana and I was Chair of the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force. Let’s continue to work together to strengthen our communities.— La Shawn Ford's campaign website (December 1, 2025)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

La Shawn Ford did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

La Shawn Ford did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

La Shawn Ford did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

.survey-result {padding:10px;}

p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;}

p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;}

p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;}

div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; }

La Shawn Ford did not complete [the profile publisher]'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]

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