Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia Won't Run for Re-Election, Installs Chief of Staff on Ballot
Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia in 2019. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago) will not run for re-election and will withdraw from the 2026 ballot after his Chief of Staff filed petitions to run for his seat Monday.
Monday was the last day to file petitions for the March 17 primary ballot, and Patty Garcia, who is no relation to the Congressman and has been his Chief of Staff since 2023, filed shortly before the deadline Monday afternoon.
Congressman Garcia, who turns 70 in April, has been a progressive icon on the Chicago political stage for decades. He served on the City Council from 1986 until being elected to the Illinois Senate in 1992. He served until 1999 when he lost a primary for re-election in 1998. He was elected to the Cook County Board in 2010 and earned widespread notoriety in 2015 when he challenged incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel, losing the runoff 56%-44%. He was elected to Congress in 2018.
Before joining Congressman Garcia’s staff, Patty Garcia worked with the Latino Center for Leadership and Development in Dallas, TX and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
She has a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral degree from the University of Illinois. Garcia resides in Cicero. Republican Lupe Castillo of Chicago also filed nominating petitions for the seat.
The 4th District is heavily Democratic. Kamala Harris won the district by 29 points last year. Governor Pritzker won it by 40 points in 2022.
UPDATE: Garcia confirmed his plans with the Chicago Tribune.
