Richard Boykin

Boykin received his bachelor's degree from Central State University and his J.D. from the University of Dayton.[1] He served as the chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis from 1997 to 2006 and on the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 2014 to 2018.[1] His career experience includes working as a lawyer.[1]

Richard Boykin did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteBoykin's campaign website stated the following:The People’s Playbook: A Contract with the 7th DistrictLower Costs. More Jobs. Safe Streets.IntroductionGrowing up in Englewood, I was an All-City and All-State football player for Chicago Vocational High School. Football is important to me. I went to Central State University in Ohio on a football scholarship, and I learned so many important lessons on the football field. The most important lesson that I’ve carried with me throughout my life is the importance of a solid playbook. Your team doesn’t stand a chance without one.As your Congressman, my team will be the entire 7th District. And when I show up to work on my first day, I will carry with me my Playbook for the 7th District - The People’s Playbook.For too long, our 7th District communities have heard empty rhetoric from politicians who talk a big game about the need for change, while our challenges only grow and life in our neighborhoods only gets more difficult.These are the kinds of results that occur when our leaders report for duty unprepared, without a vision for success. This is what happens when our leaders don’t have a playbook.We need a real playbook for change - one that lowers costs, creates jobs, and makes every street safe. As your future Congressman from the 7th District, I make this contract with you: I will devote my service in Congress to implementing the following playbook—The People’s Playbook—and I will not take my eye off the ball for one moment. I will come out strong and not let up. I am in this to win it for you, my team, my neighbors. That’s how we will make the change together that the 7th District so desperately needs.- Richard R. Boykin

Play One: Lower Costs, End CorruptionFamilies pay too much for housing, groceries, and health care — while the powerful and well-connected get rich off waste and pay-to-play deals.As your Congressman, I will work tirelessly with public and private partners to:End food deserts and increase access to fresh food and produceLower drug and health care costsExpand affordable housingCrack down on corruption so tax dollars flow to the people of the 7th District, not politicians and powerful special interestsThe Goal:- Lower costs - An end to the corruption that increases costs to our families and communities

Play Two: More JobsThe sad fact is that some of our 7th District communities haven’t seen any real economic investment since Lyndon Johnson was president. That’s not just unacceptable - it’s the mark of failed leadership. We need to think and govern differently to create economic opportunity in neighborhoods that have not seen any real economic growth in more than half a century.As your Congressman, I will join with public and private partners, and make it his mission to: Launch training and trade programs that prepare people for real careersPrioritize residents of communities with the highest unemployment by making sure those neighborhoods and individuals are first in line for federal funds and programs designed to stimulate growth and opportunityBring manufacturing back to the West Side by incentivizing investment through tax credits and public funds to revitalize industryPrioritize industries and sectors that will create good-paying, union jobs with dignity and securityThe Goal:- An end to double digit unemployment- Widespread economic opportunity, especially those communities in the 7th District that endure systemic economic challenges

Play Three: Safe StreetsTo state it plainly, the 7th District struggles with levels of deadly gun violence that no community in America should have to face. Too many of our residents have lost loved ones or fallen victim themselves to senseless shootings. And far too many of our neighbors are scared to venture outside their homes after dark, fear for their children’s safety in broad daylight, and struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after experiencing or witnessing the unthinkable. We must do better!I believe effective violence prevention happens as the result of a multi-faceted approach that also includes education, mental health, community policing and environmental safety. As Congressman for the 7th District he will join with public and private partners to:Increase investments in violence prevention programs, our local school districts, and after-school programsRenew the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons BanIncrease safe firearm storage awareness and promote and expand access to biometric ‘smart guns’Expand illegal gun ‘buy-back’ initiatives, prioritizing the communities with the highest level of gun violenceIncrease funding for mental health services and addiction supportWork with all levels of government to build a durable structure for police accountability while also expanding community policing initiativesEnsure clean drinking water, safely remove lead pipes, and clean up toxic sites - because safe streets start with safe homes and safe environmentsThe Goal- Drastically reduce the annual number of firearm deaths- Destigmatize mental healthcare and create a strong, connected mental health ‘safety net’ throughout the 7th District that includes support for addiction recovery- Expand police-community partnerships- Safeguard the environment and environmental health of 7th District communities

Closing Pledge:This is my contract with the 7th District:Lower costs. More jobs. Safe streets.We will achieve these goals using a variety of tools with a variety of partners. Ultimately, these are the three plays in the People’s Playbook for the 7th Congressional District of Illinois.My commitment to you is that on my first day in Congress, I will place The People’s Playbook on my desk, and immediately get to work.I invite you to join me in this movement! Together, we will disrupt the status quo and deliver winning results that the people of the 7th District deserve!- Richard R. Boykin— Richard Boykin's campaign website (December 1, 2025)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Richard Boykin did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Richard Boykin did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.