U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) i | YouTube
U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) i | YouTube
U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) is expected to announce today that he is backing Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for Chicago mayor.
The expected announcement conflicts with earlier reports that Gutierrez, who is retiring from Congress, was considering a run for mayor with Rahm Emanuel’s surprise announcement last week that he would not seek a third term. It was also reported that Garcia, who was running to replace Gutierrez, would not run for mayor.
Also, House Speaker Michael Madigan said that a majority of Latino members on the City Council were poised to back Chuy.
Jesus "Chuy" Garcia
The Chicago Tribune reported today that Garcia, 62, was close to launching a bid for mayor last fall, when Gutierrez’s surprise announcement that he would retire from Congress changed the political landscape. Gutierrez, 64, urged Garcia to run for his seat, and the Cook County commissioner won easily in the March primary.
Known by the nickname "El Gallito," Spanish for the little fighting rooster, Gutierrez is expected to cite his desire not to distract from his daughter, Jessica, in her race for alderman in the Northwest Side 30th Ward.
Garcia ran for mayor in 2015.
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