Democrats Pick Garcia To Succeed Rep. Gutierrez

By Associated Press
Chuy Garcia
Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia, left, seen here in this 2015 file photo with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has declared victory in the Democratic primary for retiring U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez's Congressional seat. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press
Chuy Garcia
Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia, left, seen here in this 2015 file photo with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has declared victory in the Democratic primary for retiring U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez's Congressional seat. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

Democrats Pick Garcia To Succeed Rep. Gutierrez

By Associated Press
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Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has won the Democratic primary in the race to succeed longtime Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who is retiring after 26 years.

Garcia defeated two competitors on Tuesday’s ballot. He will face Republican financial adviser and first-time candidate Mark Lorch of Riverside in November.

Garcia led community activist Sol Flores and longtime Chicago police officer Richard Gonzalez in name recognition, endorsements and fundraising. In 2015, he forced incumbent Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel into an unprecedented runoff election.

Key issues in the race were immigration, affordable housing, education and crime. The heavily Hispanic and Democratic district covers Mexican, Puerto Rican and Central American swaths of Chicago and several suburbs.