State Sen. Daniel Biss ( D-Evanston ), on Aug. 31, announced that he had selected Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa ( 35th Ward ) as his running mate in the 2018 gubernatorial contest to unseat incumbent Bruce Rauner.
Ramirez-Rosa, who is gay, has been on the City Council since 2015, where he is a member of both the LGBT and Progressive Caucuses. Formerly a community organizer and congressional caseworker to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez ( D-4 ), he is also the youngest member in the council's history.
Biss made the announcement at a rally in the Logan Square neighborhood, which Ramirez-Rosa represents. He said that he'd chosen the alderman mainly for his organizing background as well as his commitment to holding government accountable and fostering a progressive vision for the future.
Since he launched his campaign, Biss has characterized his run as a grassroots movement against wealthy special-interests in both parties.
"We had find ourselves in a completely unique moment," he said. "...Are we going to have a primary election or are we going to have an auction?"
Ramirez-Rosa made commitments to fight for immigrant-rights, LGBT-rights, single-payer healthcare and a $15 per hour minimum wage, among other issues. He spoke of feeling a kinship with Biss in their passion for organizing; just as Ramirez-Rosa was active in fighting on behalf of immigrants, Biss was active in opposing the Iraq war.
"In so many ways, my story is Daniel's story," he added.
Further pledging to work for "the accountable and transparent state government we deserve," Ramirez-Rosa added, "I have never felt more hopeful for our future as I look out at this audience tonight."
State Rep. Will Guzzardi ( D-Chicago ) opened the rally with an endorsement for Biss. Attorney Jamie Brown introduced the senator.