Overview
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez read a privileged resolution on the House floor accusing Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García of undermining a free and fair election, triggering a vote within two legislative days unless it is withdrawn.
- Patty Garcia, the congressman’s chief of staff and not a relative, filed petitions on the final day and has launched her campaign, leaving her as the only Democrat currently on the March primary ballot in IL-04.
- García’s office says his retirement was a deeply personal decision tied to health and family and insists he followed Illinois election rules; he is expected to withdraw his own petitions.
- Democrats split publicly as leaders sought to head off the floor move, with Reps. Delia Ramirez and Jonathan Jackson criticizing the effort and Sen. Andy Kim expressing support for a formal disapproval.
- With the district rated D+17 by Cook Political Report, the primary is effectively decisive; Patty Garcia defends the process as open and says she collected 2,500 signatures in two days.