Editing Harold Washington (section)

===U.S. House (1981–1983)===
In 1980, Washington was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in [[Illinois's 1st congressional district]]. He defeated incumbent Representative [[Bennett Stewart]] in the Democratic primary.<ref name="congbio">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000180 |title=Harold Washington |dictionary=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |author=United States Congress |date=n.d. |access-date=January 26, 2008}}</ref><ref name="resolution_08-R-09">{{cite web|url=http://www.cookctyclerk.com/upload/syno_pdf_745.PDF |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.cookctyclerk.com/upload/syno_pdf_745.PDF |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Resolution 08-R-09 (Honoring the life of Harold Washington) |author=Cook County Board of Commissioners |date=December 4, 2007 |access-date=January 26, 2006 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Anticipating that the Democratic Party would challenge him in his bid for re-nomination in 1982, Washington spent much of his first term campaigning for re-election, often travelling back to Chicago to campaign. Washington missed many House votes, an issue that would come up in his campaign for mayor in 1983.<ref name="levinsohn_166-172">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 166–172.</ref> Washington's major congressional accomplishment involved legislation to extend the [[Voting Rights Act]], legislation that opponents had argued was only necessary in an emergency. Others, including Congressman [[Henry Hyde]], had submitted amendments designed to seriously weaken the power of the Voting Rights Act.

Although he had been called "crazy" for railing in the House of Representatives against deep cuts to social programs, [[Associated Press]] political reporter Mike Robinson noted that Washington worked "quietly and thoughtfully" as the time came to pass the act. During hearings in the South regarding the Voting Rights Act, Washington asked questions that shed light on tactics used to prevent African Americans from voting (among them, closing registration early, literacy tests, and gerrymandering). After the amendments were submitted on the floor, Washington spoke from prepared speeches that avoided rhetoric and addressed the issues.  As a result, the amendments were defeated, and Congress passed the Voting Rights Act Extension.<ref name="levinsohn_172">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 172.</ref> By the time Washington faced re-election in 1982, he had cemented his popularity in the 1st Congressional District. Jane Byrne could not find one serious candidate to run against Washington for his re-election campaign. He had collected 250,000 signatures to get on the ballot, although only 610 signatures (0.5% of the voters in the previous election) were required. With his re-election to Congress locked up, Washington turned his attention to the next Chicago mayoral election.<ref name="levinsohn_176">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 176.</ref>