Openly gay Chicago Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) declared his candidacy for Congress against progressive leader and incumbent U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garciasetting up a March 2024 Democratic primary showdown, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Both ran for Chicago mayor in the last municipal election; however, Lopez dropped out and endorsed Paul Vallas. Garcia finished fourth behind Brandon Johnson (who won the mayoral race as Garcia backed him), Vallas and incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Garcia will run with support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Lopez has said that Johnson's influence "stops at the city's border" and that the race "needs a moderate leader to match the moderate views" of 4th Congressional District voters. The district is made up of Chicago's Southwest Side and central Cook County (including communities such as Berwyn, LaGrange Park and Burbank, among others) as well as part of eastern DuPage County.
On Oct. 2, Lopez filed a statement of organization for a congressional campaign with the Federal Election Commission. He listed his husband of 17 years, Hugo Lopez, as campaign treasurer; Hugo also helps run the councilmember's aldermanic and ward committeeperson finances.
Andrew Davis