Illinois congressman forgoes reelection with eyebrow-raising move to place chief of staff on ballot

CHICAGO -- U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia confirmed Thursday that helium won’t question a 5th term, days aft the Illinois Democrat backed a quiescent effort to get his main of unit to regenerate him connected the March superior ballot.

Garcia, a progressive Democrat who has made migrant rights a signature issue, becomes the 5th U.S. typical from Illinois to forgo 2026 reelection, leaving 1 of the highest fig of unfastened legislature seats successful authorities history. All 5 are considered safely Democratic, on with a spot near unfastened by retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

Garcia, 69, turned successful his nominating petitions for the superior ballot connected Monday, Oct. 27, the archetypal time of the Illinois State Board of Elections filing period. A week aboriginal connected the past time of filing, his main of staff, Patty Garcia, who is not related to the congressman, submitted her ain to participate the 4th District contention aft a furious play effort to stitchery 2,500 signatures.

The congressman didn't denote the program publicly, opting for sporadic interviews with section media outlets. He said the determination to permission authorities culminated from a confluence of wellness and household concerns during the “most stressful" week of his life.

He said his wife, who has aggregate sclerosis, suffered a aesculapian setback and asked him not to run. Then his doc raised concerns astir his bosom health. In the aforesaid clip frame, the mates finalized the adoption of their 8-year-old grandson. They person been raising grandchildren aft the decease of their daughter, Rosa, successful 2023.

“My cardiologist, the archetypal time that I filed my petitions, told maine that I request to instrumentality attraction of myself and I request to find thing other to do,” helium told The Associated Press connected Thursday. “It was a hellhole of a week.”

Still, the governmental maneuver instantly fueled disapproval astir Chicago-style authorities with the congressman fundamentally anointing his main of unit to nationalist office.

Patty Garcia submitted her petitions astatine 5 p.m. connected the last time of the nominating period, according to authorities predetermination committee data, guaranteeing that nary different campaigner would person the accidental to tally successful the superior arsenic a Democrat.

Garcia called the disapproval fair.

“I wholly get wherefore immoderate radical person travel to that conclusion. I recovered myself successful a precise hard position. I had to scramble,” helium said. “I had to marque definite determination was idiosyncratic connected the ballot who was going to beryllium a champion for immigrants, idiosyncratic who understands the territory and tiny businesses and idiosyncratic who would beryllium hitting the crushed running.”

The congressman said he'll withdrawn his petitions. He intends to service retired his term, which ends successful January 2027.

The concern besides prompted déjà vu arsenic Garcia was archetypal elected to Congress successful 2018 nether akin circumstances. His predecessor, erstwhile U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez announced successful the waning days of the 2017 filing play that helium was dropping retired and backing Garcia, past a Cook County commissioner who had served arsenic a authorities legislator and Chicago City Council member.

Garcia has wide sanction designation successful the city, successful portion from 2 unsuccessful bids for Chicago mayor.

Born successful Mexico, helium came to the U.S. arsenic a child. He was a assemblage activist, organizing sit-ins for establishing a Latino taste center. He aboriginal helped recovered assemblage groups and served arsenic a h2o commissioner nether the city’s archetypal Black mayor, Harold Washington.

The mild-mannered person — highly recognizable for his trademark mustache — has remained fashionable successful his district, which includes Latino and immigrant-heavy areas. Most recently, he's made headlines for calling for reforms astatine a suburban Chicago migration processing center.

As congressman, he’s touted bringing backmost much than $50 cardinal successful backing backmost to his territory dozens of projects, including schoolhouse programs, a suburban flooding project, a room enlargement and backing a session for low-income residents.

Garcia said helium does not mean to tally for nationalist bureau again.

“I americium not stepping out. I americium stepping back,” helium said. “This doesn’t mean that I volition vanish oregon cease to beryllium active. I mean to beryllium a mentor, idiosyncratic who shares the past and struggles.”

Patty Garcia, 40, has worked for the congressman since helium took office. She did not respond to requests for remark this week.

The congressman said his departure, on with others from the Illinois legislature delegation, would beryllium a bully thing.

“I deliberation we request caller blood, caller vigor successful Congress.”

Four different representatives person said they won’t question reelection adjacent year. U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Danny Davis are retiring, portion Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly are moving for Senate.