Edgar Gonzalez, Jr., a young community activist and organizer and constituent services staffer for Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, launched his campaign for state representative in Illinois’ 21st District on Monday, filing nearly 1000 petition signatures with the Illinois State Board of Elections to qualify for the ballot in the March 17, 2020 Democratic primary election. The 21st District seat, which is currently held by Representative Celina Villanueva, may be open, if Villanueva decides to run for the 11th District state senate seat vacated last week by Senator Martin Sandoval. “If Rep. Villanueva fills the vacant state senate seat, I hope to follow in the progressive path she has charted in the House of Representatives,” said Gonzalez. “Like Rep. Villanueva, I am committed to advocating for working families and immigrant families like my own, and I will bring that approach to my work every day in Springfield representing the communities of the 21st State Representative District.” Gonzalez is a member of Congressman Garcia’s in-district constituent services staff, focusing on the areas of immigration, social security, veterans’ affairs, criminal justice and education. Gonzalez is the son of immigrants from Monterrey, Mexico. His father is an operating engineer and a member of IUOE Local 399. At 23, Gonzalez would be the youngest Latino and youngest Democrat ever elected to the Illinois House of Representatives.