Democrat Patty Garcia declared victory on Tuesday in the race to succeed her boss, U.S. Rep Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (no relation) in Illinois' 4th Congressional District, following months of accusations of using machine politics to get the seat.
CBS News projects Patty Garcia defeated three other candidates in the race, Republican Lupe Castillo, Lyons Mayor and independent candidate Chris Getty, and Working Class Party candidate and Chicago Public Schools teacher Ed Hershey.
Rep. Chuy Garcia had initially filed petitions to run again in 2026, but dropped out of the race at the last minute because of family health issues, he said. That left Patty Garcia, his chief of staff, as the only candidate on the ballot in the Democratic primary in March.
The last-minute move created a controversy, with Rep. Garcia accepting some criticism for what some called a bait-and-switch. It became a central issue in the race for the 4th District seat.
Despite accusations of her boss clearing the field for her to win the race, Patty Garcia had the support of other establishment Democrats in a district seen as a safely blue seat.
Garcia thanked her predecessor and parents, and touted being part of the national blue wave of Democrats heading to Washington.
Garcia told supporters she's going to Congress to focus on affordability and to support progressive policies.
"Groceries cost more. Rent keeps going up, and our families are working harder and harder just to get by, I'm going to Washington to fight for them. That means Medicare for all, so no one has to choose between paycheck and a doctor. It means trade that protects workers, not shareholders," she said.
Patty Garcia also said she is focused on abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and wants to hold accountable any agents who broke laws or violated rights during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations across the country.
