Alderman Lopez seeks to prevent Congressman Garcia from representing Chicago in DC for a fourth term
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CHICAGO — From the Southwest Side to parts of several western suburbs, two well-known experience politicians are facing off.
In the March 19 primary, progressive Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia 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,” Alderman Lopez said.
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As Democrats — they play for the same team — but Garcia and Lopez are on opposite sides of nearly every major issue.
“Ray Lopez is the most conservative alderman in City Council, he’s out front on issues including immigration and public safety,” Political Strategist Lisa Duarte said. “While you have Chuy Garcia 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.”
Garcia is seeking a third 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,” Congressman Garcia said.
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Both Garica and Lopez support a path to citizenship for migrants, but they differ on Chicago’s Sanctuary City status. Garcia supports it while Lopez tried to amend city law.
On foreign policy, last fall, Garcia 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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“Nobody wants to ask the question that Jerry Maguire made so famous “Show me the money!” Where is it?” Lopez said. “To say it comes off as a gimmick would be an understatement. Every weekend can’t be a bloody weekend. I think we need to reassess what we’re doing.”
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 Garcia had more than $202,000.
Whatever the outcome next week, political strategist Lisa Duarte said 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,” Duarte said. “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.”
There will not be a Republican running in the 4th Congressional in the March 19 primary.
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