Early voting is underway in Chicago and primary election day is less than three weeks away.
Voters in Illinois’ newly drawn 3rd Congressional District will have four candidates to choose from in the Democratic primary. There is also one Republican candidate running.
The new district was drawn after the 2020 Census and reapportionment. It includes parts of the Northwest Side of Chicago and snakes out to some western suburbs in DuPage County — like Glen Ellyn, Bartlett and Wheaton.
This re-drawing also makes it the second Latino majority congressional district in the state.
Joining “Chicago Tonight” for a candidate forum:
Delia Ramirez: Ramirez is the 4th District State Rep. and has been a representative since 2018. She was born and raised in Humboldt Park. Ramirez says some of the most pressing needs are to pass Medicare-for-All, increase affordable housing and pathways to citizenship for DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants.
Gilbert ‘Gil’ Villegas: Villegas has been in office since 2015 as the 36th ward alderman for Chicago City Council, as well as the chair of the Latino Caucus. Villegas says there’s need to support working families with plans like extending child tax credits, passing paid family and medical leave at the federal level and moving towards a federal universal basic income program.
Iymen H. Chehade: A professor and lecturer at Columbia College Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chehade is also the director of foreign policy and research for the Marie Newman campaign. Newman is the 3rd District representative. He said he wants to free politics from lobbyists and special interest groups and to provide constituents with well-paying jobs.
Juan Enrique Aguirre: Aguirre is a registered nurse who attended the University of Michigan. And he’s also the director of nursing and community outreach at cannabis company The Yard Illinois. He said his diagnosis for the city is that it lacks affordable and nutritious food options, affordable housing and safety.
