U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders added his progressive bona fides to Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s bid for Congress on Thursday, endorsing the Southwest Side Democrat to succeed U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez.
Garcia was a prominent backer of Sanders in the 2016 presidential race and became a national Latino surrogate for the liberal Vermont senator’s unsuccessful bid, so it was not surprising that Sanders returned the favor by endorsing Garcia.
“ ‘Chuy’ Garcia is the right person at the right time for the work we have ahead of us,” Sanders said in a news release Thursday morning. “He is ready and willing to stand up and fight for the working families of Chicago and our nation and take on the powerful special interests who have far too much power over the economic and political life of our country.”
Sanders’ support could prove particularly useful to Garcia as the Cook County commissioner tries to strengthen his support beyond his Southwest Side base in the primary race for the 4th Congressional District. Garcia is less well-known in the Northwest Side part of the district, which has proved to be a recent hotbed for Sanders’ brand of progressivism as many younger voters move into Logan Square, Avondale, Bucktown and other neighborhoods.
And freshman Northwest Side Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, has launched his own bid to succeed Gutierrez. Ramirez-Rosa also hopes to woo Sanders supporters, a task that will be more difficult now that the former presidential candidate has wrapped his arms around Garcia.
Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno, 1st, also has announced his candidacy.
Chicago police Sgt. Richard Gonzalez has filed paperwork to run for Gutierrez’s seat — a move he made before the congressman announced he wouldn’t run again. He’s backed by state Rep. Luis Arroyo Sr., who differs with Gutierrez on the issue of Puerto Rican statehood. Gonzalez in 2011 ran for an open City Council seat in the 41st Ward, placing third with 10 percent of the vote, which prevented him from making the runoff contest.
And Sol Flores, the executive director of La Casa Norte, a nonprofit group that serves youth and families confronting homelessness, is circulating petitions to run for the seat and plans to file them Monday. Ald. Ameya Pawar, 47th, endorsed her Thursday, saying “we need new voices in politics” and adding that he was inspired by the idea that she would be the first Latina from Illinois elected to Congress.
In his statement, Sanders nodded to Garcia’s Mexican roots, but he also said Garcia’s “strong ties to the Puerto Rican community” will be an asset as a “powerful advocate for our ‘Marshall Plan’ legislation to rebuild and renew that island” following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. That comes after Gutierrez, a proud Puerto Rican who has been a loud voice in Washington, D.C., for hurricane relief efforts, also endorsed Garcia.
For his part, Garcia said in the release that he was aligned with the senator on virtually all of his key issues.
“I champion opportunity for all as an ally of independent Sen. Bernie Sanders,” Garcia, a Cook County commissioner, said in the release. “I will do everything in my power to move the nation forward on these crucial issues.”
Gutierrez said Wednesday he’d consider entering the 2020 presidential contest if a bid would be the best way to spur immigration reform and the rebuilding of Puerto Rico.
Chicago Tribune’s Hal Dardick contributed to this story.
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_johnbyrne
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