Danny Davis, the 83-year-old dean of Illinois’ U.S. House delegation and a voice for progressive politics for decades, is expected to announce Thursday that he will not seek election to a 16th term representing his downtown and West Side district — the latest move in a generational change sweeping the state’s and nation’s political scene.

Davis is also expected to announce his endorsement of veteran state Rep. La Shawn Ford in a budding primary contest to succeed him for the Democratic nomination in March, a well-placed source close to the congressman’s decision-making said Wednesday. Ford announced his congressional bid in May but said he would not run if Davis had sought another term.

Davis’ decision to retire at the end of his current term in January 2027 would create the fourth open-

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