Chicago City Wire

U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL) announced the passing of his 28-year-old adopted daughter, an April 4 Chicago Sun-Times report said.

“Last night our beloved daughter, Rosa, passed away at the age of 28," the senator said in a statement. " We are completely heartbroken. Rosa joined our family as a young girl who had been in the foster care system. We did our best to provide a stable, loving, and welcoming home for her. Our family asks for privacy and welcomes your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”

A cause of death has not been announced, and funeral arrangements are still pending for Rosa, the youngest of three children of Garcia, who recently made a run for mayor of the City of Chicago in a crowded primary field of nine candidates; the Sun-Times reported.

In the April 4 runoff election between progressive Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas, Garcia endorsed Johnson, the eventual winner.

"Commissioner Johnson and I have shared priorities for our city, including public safety, quality education, affordable housing, community development, and ensuring Chicago remains a safe and welcoming city to immigrant communities," Garcia said in a statement.

Garcia's backing may have helped help boost Johnson's support among Latino voters on the Southwest Side as well as white liberal voters on the lakefront, voting blocs many argued could make the difference in who would assume the mayoral seat at City Hall, CBS Chicago recently reported.

When Garcia entered the mayor's race, he was considered the front-runner, the CBS report said. But he finished in fourth place after the first round of voting with approximately 14% of the vote, while Johnson and Vallas took the top two spots and incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot was third, effectively losing her bid for reelection.