Chicago mayoral candidate profile: Jesús ‘Chuy’ García

U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García ran for mayor in 2015, challenging Rahm Emanuel as the candidate handpicked by Chicago’s progressive unions. Born in Durango, Mexico, García was a young protegé of Latino community activist Rudy Lozano, who was a budding political star before he was killed by a gang member. With Harold Washington’s help, García won election as 22nd Ward Democratic committeeman in 1984. Garcia was elected aldermen and then state senator before being defeated by Hispanic allies of then-Mayor Richard M. Daley. After running for the Cook County Board, Garcia ran against Emanuel and became a progressive folk hero. He jumped from the Cook County Board to the U.S. Congress in 2018 after Rep. Luis Gutierrez retired, where Garcia formed an alliance with now-indicted Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and became an influential power broker in state politics.

Age: 66

Born: Durango, Mexico

Personal: Married to Evelyn Chinea-Garcia, three children

Education: Bachelor’s degree and master’s in urban public planning and policy, University of Illinois at Chicago

Neighborhood: Little Village

Current job: Congressman

Government experience: Elected 22nd ward committeeman in 1984, won a special election for City Council in 1986, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1992, lost re-election in 1998. In 2010, Garcia ran for Cook County commissioner and won. He successfully ran for U.S. Congress in 2018.

Political experience: Garcia pushed Rahm Emanuel into Chicago’s first mayoral runoff in 2015 but lost. He passed on a bid for mayor in 2019, instead endorsing Lori Lightfoot.

Campaign slogan: “Chuy for Chicago”

Campaign website: chuyforchicago.com

Who is on the ballot: 2023 Chicago mayoral election guide

Read more

• US Rep. ‘Chuy’ García joins race for Chicago mayor

• García lands a big labor endorsement

• ‘You brought chaos’: Mayor Lightfoot defends record against challengers ‘Chuy’ García and Brandon Johnson

• Latino voters could be key in the mayoral race. Will they back ‘Uncle’ Chuy Garcia or a rival?

• In first debate, challengers attack Lori Lightfoot’s record while she aims to ‘finish the job we have started’

• White voters helped propel Lori Lightfoot to the mayor’s office in 2019. Will they stick with her in February?

• Many progressives want to defeat Lightfoot. Can they do it without hurting their movement?

• Indicted crypto magnate’s political contributions to Garcia making waves in mayor’s race

• Garcia reacts to losses by 2019 candidates he backed: ‘Did I want to win? Badly.’

• Garcia endorses Lori Lightfoot in 2019 Chicago mayor’s race

• Garcia presses to turn negatives into positives against Rahm Emanuel in 2015 campaign