Biography

Jesús G. "Chuy" García, born on April 12, 1956, in Los Pinos, Durango, Mexico, is a Democratic U.S. Representative serving Illinois's 4th Congressional District since 2019. At the age of 10, he immigrated to the United States with his family, settling in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood before moving to Little Village. García has been a progressive advocate for immigrant and working-class communities, focusing on equitable access to quality education, affordable housing, and economic opportunity.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: García attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Urban Planning.

• Political Experience:

  • Democratic Committeeman, 22nd Ward: 1984–2000
  • Chicago Alderman, 22nd Ward: 1986–1993
  • Illinois State Senator, 1st District: 1993–1998
  • Cook County Commissioner, 7th District: 2010–2018
  • U.S. Representative, Illinois's 4th District: 2019–present

Notable Achievements and Positions

• First Mexican American from the Midwest in Congress: García made history in 2019 as the first Mexican American from the Midwest to serve in the U.S. Congress.

• Committee Assignments:

  • House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Member
  • House Committee on the Judiciary: Member
  • Financial Services Committee: Member
  • Natural Resources Committee: Member

• Caucus Memberships:

  • Congressional Hispanic Caucus
  • Congressional Progressive Caucus
  • Congressional Equality Caucus
  • Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus
  • Future of Transportation Caucus
  • New Americans Caucus

• Advocacy: García has been recognized for his extensive work fighting for immigration rights, universal health care, criminal justice reform, and workers’ rights.

• Mayoral Campaigns: He ran for Mayor of Chicago in 2015 and 2023, demonstrating his commitment to public service at various levels of government.

García continues to reside in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood with his wife, Evelyn, and their three adult children.