Rep. Jesus ‘Chuy García and Ald. Raymond Lopez face off in race for seat in Illinois’s 4th congressional district

CHICAGO — The Illinois primary election is just days away, and one of the more closely watched contests is the race for a seat in Illinois’s 4th congressional district.

From the Southwest Side to parts of several western suburbs, two well-known, experienced politicians are facing off.

In the March 19th primary, progressive Congressman Jesus “Chuy” García must fend off a challenge from conservative Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez.

“The people want what we have to offer. What they do not want is more of the same leadership that fails to lead,” Lopez said.

As Democrats, they play for the same team, but García and Lopez are on opposite sides of nearly every major issue.

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“Ray Lopez is the most conservative alderman in City Council, he’s out front on issues including immigration and public safety. You have Chuy García who was kind of the darling of what was the left and then continued to be the far-left movement. He’s also been out front in public safety, but more in the comprehensive criminal justice reform space, ” political strategist Lisa Duarte said.

García is seeking his fourth term in the predominately Hispanic 4th Congressional District, while in Washington, he’s focused on transit and immigration.

“We’ve got to address the root causes of what is driving the desperation that is making people come here,” García said.

Both Garica and Lopez support a path to citizenship for migrants, but they differ on Chicago’s Sanctuary City status. García supported it, while Lopez tried to amend city law.

On foreign policy, last fall, García bucked President Biden by supporting a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Lopez had a different take. He voted against a symbolic cease-fire measure passed by City Council.

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Lopez is loquacious and best known for criticism of Mayors Lightfoot and Johnson.

“Nobody wants to ask the question that Jerry Maguire made so famous ‘”‘Show me the money!’ Where is it?” Lopez said.

Despite his high profile on television, Lopez has struggled to raise money in the contest. He ended last year with roughly $31,000 cash on hand, while García had more than $202,000.

Whatever the outcome next week, political strategist Lisa Duarte says Lopez’s is growing a movement.

“This is part of the larger conversation happening around Latinos in the city of Chicago within the 4th District. You can see that they are 64 percent of the 4th Congressional District, and the question is ‘Who can crack the code on Latinos and how they vote?’ You have conservative Latinos and you have more moderate and even the far-left is occupied by many Latinos,” Duarte said.

No Republican is running in the 4th Congressional, so next Tuesday is the whole ballgame.

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