Mayra Macías to challenge Rep. Chuy García's handpicked successor

Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s handpicked successor is officially getting a challenge.

Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s handpicked successor is officially getting a challenge.

Mayra Macías is a lifelong Democrat and Chicago native who has worked on Latino advocacy and promoting former President Joe Biden’s agenda. She announced her candidacy Wednesday to run as an independent in Illinois' 4th Congressional District. If elected, Macías said she would caucus with Democrats.

"I’ve really focused my whole career on building and serving and making sure that we’re fighting for quality education, health care and affordable housing,” Macías said. “Under the Trump administration, we’re seeing a lot of this progress rolled back.”

García’s surprise retirement announcement in early November created a firestorm and drew a rebuke from his own party. His plans were known only to his chief of staff, Patty Garcia (no relation). Because the congressman announced his retirement after the filing deadline, Patty Garcia was the only one to file the required signatures before the deadline to run as a Democrat in March.

But there is still time to run as an independent in a general election, with signatures not due until May. Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, another potential candidate, confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times that he launched a committee to explore a run as an independent.