Chuy García
Jesús G. "Chuy" García (/ˈtʃuːi/ CHOO-ee; born April 12, 1956) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Illinois's 4th district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, as well as in the Illinois Senate and on the Chicago City Council before his election to Congress. He was also a candidate for mayor of Chicago in 2015 and 2023. Throughout his career in Chicago and national politics, he has been described as a progressive.
Jesús "Chuy" García | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Luis Gutiérrez |
| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 7th district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – November 30, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Mario Moreno |
| Succeeded by | Alma Anaya |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 1st district | |
| In office January 13, 1993 – January 13, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Howard W. Carroll |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Munoz |
| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 22nd ward | |
| In office March 25, 1986 – January 1, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Stemberk |
| Succeeded by | Ricardo Muñoz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 12, 1956 Durango, Mexico |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Evelyn García (m. 1980) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Illinois, Chicago (BA, MUP) |
| Website | House website |
García was first elected to the Chicago City Council in 1986. During his time on the city council, he was known for being a staunch ally of Mayor Harold Washington. In 1992, he became the first Mexican-American member of the Illinois State Senate. He was defeated in his reelection bid to the state senate by Antonio Munoz in the 1998 primary.
In 2010, García was elected to the 7th district of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and after his election was appointed floor leader by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. A candidate for mayor of Chicago in the 2015 election, he finished second in the February 24 general election and forced a runoff election against the incumbent, Rahm Emanuel, which Emanuel won. García won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, replacing retiring representative and ally Luis Gutiérrez.
He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Chicago a second time in the 2023 election, challenging incumbent mayor Lori Lightfoot. After placing fourth in the first round, García endorsed Brandon Johnson's successful candidacy in the runoff.