Former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. is mounting a political comeback after serving 17 months in federal prison for misusing $750,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses. Thirteen years after pleading guilty in a Washington courtroom, Jackson seeks to reclaim his old Illinois congressional seat in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

The Second Congressional District, covering parts of Chicago's South Side and suburban areas, remains deeply Democratic. Jackson faces a crowded field including Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, who has support from a pro-Israel super PAC. Polling has been scarce in the race, though Jackson's experience—17 years in Congress—could distinguish him in an economically distressed region.

Jackson's campaign has benefited from his father's recent death, which temporarily muted criticism from rivals. State Senator Willie Preston now challenges him directly, questioning his past record. The endorsement of former Congressman Bobby Rush, a South Side political powerhouse, could prove decisive as Jackson attempts to turn his political scandal into a redemption narrative.