Report: Rep. Luis Gutiérrez Won’t Run for Re-Election
Illinois Democrat has been an outspoken immigration overhaul advocate
Illinois Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez is expected to announce Tuesday he’s not running for re-election, according to sources who spoke to NBC 5 Chicago.
The Democratic lawmaker will make his announcement at 1 p.m., Central time, and is expected to endorse Cook County Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia to succeed him, sources told NBC 5.
First elected in 1992, Gutiérrez, a Democrat, is in his 13th term representing the 4th District. He serves on the Judiciary Committee and chairs the Democratic Caucus Immigration Task Force and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force. He’s been an outspoken advocate for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws.
A frequent critic of President Donald Trump, he’s twice been arrested at immigrants’ rights protests since Trump took office.
Gutiérrez will leave behind a solid Democratic seat. But there’s not much time for successor candidates to get off the ground. The filing period opened Monday and closes next Monday, giving interested candidates just a week to file the necessary petition forms with enough signatures to get on the ballot.
NBC 5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern reported that Garcia has already begun printing petitions. Chicago city aldermen Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Joe Moreno are also looking at the race, according to the news station.