Illinois
Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García discusses decision to not run for reelection: ‘Want to cherish my family’
CHICAGO (WLS) — Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García sat down with ABC7 Chicago to discuss his decision not to run for reelection to Illinois’ 4th Congressional District and quickly anoint his chief of staff.
The congressman seems to be embroiled in controversy. His critics are now accusing him of playing politics after he announced he wouldn’t seek reelection, but appeared to left in place a plan to make sure his chief of staff took over his seat.
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“I’m concerned about me being portrayed as a king and someone anointing, like Donald Trump,” García said.
The lawmaker defended his last-minute controversial decision, saying the timing was result of family obligations and not the Chicago political machine at play.
The 69-year old says he’s stepping aside because of advice he received from his cardiologist. García also cited his wife’s fight against MS.
“I knew that she was hurting,” García said. “I knew that she was worried about the future and that she told me I need you home soon and I need you home alive. That was gut wrenching.”
García filed petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections to run for his 4th Congressional District seat on October 27, but his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, who is not related to him, filed her petitions ahead of Monday’s deadline for filing. The congressman says he struggled with the decision.
RELATED | Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García’s decision to exit 2026 race, anoint his chief of staff draws criticism
“I’ve been contested. I’ve been challenged every race that I’ve had, so anyone could have filed and run for this office as they did two years ago four years ago, six years ago,” García said.
García has been a mainstay in Chicago politics for four decades. He’s served as an alderman, a Cook County commissioner, state senator and was a two-time mayoral candidate.
García is the deputy whip of the congressional Progressive Caucus and has represented the 4th District since 2019. He’s been reelected three times.
Alderman Mike Rodriguez of the 22nd Ward is part of García’s coalition and might have been considered to run for García’s seat.
“The best candidate, the only candidate that anyone should be looking right now is Dr. Patty Garcia,” Ald. Rodriguez said. “She’s amazing.”
Born in Mexico, “Chuy” García came to Chicago in the 1960s, eventually living in the city’s Little Village neighborhood. He became politically active in the coalition of then Mayor Harold Washington.
García remains sentimental about his legacy.
“All this reminded me of the loss of our daughter and the children arriving, and the strength that they gave us,” García said. “During this time, we discovered what life is all about and how you make a difference. I really want to cherish my family.”
SEE ALSO | Race to replace Sen. Durbin: Who could take the Illinois seat in DC?
The congressman’s decision is the latest in Illinois politics this year, with five open congressional seats and an open senate race for the March primary.
The congressman has until January 8 to withdraw his petitions. That’s the day the Illinois State Board of Elections certifies the March 17 ballot. So far, that hasn’t happened yet.
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Illinois
Produce Recall Issued In Parasite Outbreak Hitting IL
A number of Taco Bell locations have posted signs announcing they are “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall,” according to Detroit-area news radio outlet WWJ.
Taco Bell told the Post it would keep monitoring the situation and follow authorities’ guidance.
Taco Bell Lettuce Linked To Growing MI Parasite Outbreak: FDA
“Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer,” the company told the Post. “While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.”
In Michigan, where cases have been concentrated, media reports said notices were posted at some Detroit-area Taco Bell restaurants last week telling customers the chain was “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro-Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.”
Illinois
Illinois GOP trails badly in midterm cash
The Illinois Republican Party filed its quarterly campaign finance report on the July 15 deadline. The party reported having just $223K in the bank. The next day, the party sent a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections saying they were “reconciling” their records after a leadership change, and then noted that their actual end balance was $101K higher than it had reported the day before.
But that bit of found money was basically the end of the “good news” for the GOP last week.
Republicans no longer have a pet billionaire. Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin have fled the state. The legions of wealthy business titans who once contributed and raised money have either retired to sunnier climes or passed away. Several prominent party members have publicly shunned labor unions and their hefty political war chests, although the state GOP legislative leaders have at least tried to rebuild ties to trade unions and even the Illinois Education Association. But the heavily gerrymandered legislative map combined with the current political climate means they’ll mostly receive scraps.
And, yes, the House Democrats are struggling this month with scandals, including a state representative who resigned under pressure and another who was indicted. I’m not trying to downplay that at all. But Democrats have the national political environment, the local infrastructure and tons of cash behind them. The Republicans have little to none of that.
The GOP’s gubernatorial candidate, Darren Bailey, raised $1.3 million in the second quarter, which ended June 30. That sounds like a lot, but he spent almost all of that on direct mail fundraising costs. The huge expenditures do give him a prospect list for future fundraising, but he ended the quarter with a mere $128K in the bank. That was still a whole lot more than the rest of the statewide ticket.
Attorney General nominee Bob Fioretti, a perennial candidate, raised $31K, spent $39K and had $28K on hand at the end of the quarter along with almost $15K in recent debt. Secretary of State candidate Diane Harris raised $6K, spent a bit over $4K and had a paltry $1,816.42 in the bank. Treasurer candidate Max Solomon, who ran as a write-in during the primary because the party failed to recruit anyone, raised less than $3K, reported no spending and ended the quarter with less than $8K. Comptroller candidate Bryan Drew raised $30K and received $47K in in-kind contributions from a company owned, ironically, by independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett, spent less than $3K, ended with $54K and had $25K in debt from earlier this year.
Man, that’s just downright pathetic.
But I suppose it doesn’t really matter anyway unless we see a massive sea-change in national opinion in the coming months or the federal government finds a way to not certify certain election results. Regardless of where individual candidates are at this moment, they’ll have the money to compete. Unlike the Republicans, the Dems do have a pet billionaire (JB Pritzker) and, I assume eventually for most of them, organized labor.
The Republican legislative leaders have tried to scrape and claw as much as they can, but they’re vastly outgunned. Senate Republican Leader John Curran raised just $75K in the second quarter. He spent $71K and reported having a bit more than $3 million in the bank. His caucus committee reported having $160K in the bank.
Leader Curran has three Republican-held districts to defend in the Chicago media market that have all trended Democratic in the last three cycles. Depending how bad things get, he could be defending a couple, two or three more.
The Senate Democrats have a ton of money to do whatever they want. Senate President Don Harmon has about $20 million in his personal campaign account and $1.7 million in his caucus account.
Over in the House, Republican Leader Tony McCombie has at least four Democratic-trending or swingy districts to defend and just $1.3 million in her personal campaign account and another $363K in her caucus account so far.
In contrast, House Speaker Chris Welch had $11.4 million in his personal account and $1.2 million in his caucus account. Like Senate President Harmon, he has more than enough money already, but more is never enough when there’s so much out there, so those numbers will likely rise by November.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Illinois
Hillsboro grad, Springfield golfer Alex Eickhoff 2nd at state amateur
BLOOMINGTON — Springfield’s Alex Eickhoff nearly had a magical Thursday as he tied for second place in the 95th annual Illinois State Amateur Championship at Crestwicke Country Club.
Eickhoff, a 2020 Hillsboro High School graduate and former standout on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s men’s golf team, shot a 4-under-par 68 in Thursday’s third round and followed that with an even-par 71 to finish the three-day, four-round event 1-over 285. He tied for second with Bloomington’s Logan Stauffer.
Eickhoff briefly took the lead through nine holes of his fourth round when he sat at 1-under par. Chicago’s Charlie Kulwin finished both of Thursday’s rounds under par and finished 2-under 282. He was the lone golfer to finish under par for the tournament.
Eickhoff was The State Journal-Register’s Small School Boys Golfer of the year twice in his high school career: once as a freshman in 2016-17 and again as a senior in 2019-20. After high school, he golfed for the University of Minnesota for two years before transferring to SIUE.
He began the tournament with a 3-over 74 on Tuesday and shaved off a stroke Wednesday with a 2-over 73. He closed out the event with an even-par 71 in Thursday’s final round.
Other area golfers who made the cut were Springfield’s Charles Hoogland (7-over 291, tied for 20th) and Jacksonville’s Brady Kaufmann (8-over 292, 25th).
The last golfer from The State Journal-Register’s coverage area to win the Illinois State Amateur was Jay Davis. Davis, a Jacksonville Routt graduate, won the 1991 and ‘92 tournaments.
Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.
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