Overview
- Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García withdrew at the final filing deadline, which left his former chief of staff Patty García as the Democratic nominee after she was placed on the ballot.
- Patty García has collected broad institutional support, including more than 175 Democratic endorsements and backing from major labor groups.
- The general election field includes Lyons Mayor Chris Getty running as an independent, Republican Lupe Castillo, and Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey.
- Getty has publicly accused the move of being a machine-style anointing and has competitive fundraising in some suburban parts of the district, while petition challenges eliminated other would-be independent entrants.
- The campaign has focused on immigration enforcement and rising costs in the Hispanic-majority, court-drawn 4th District, and the controversy over the substitution could affect voter trust and turnout on Election Day.