Chris Getty, elected the youngest mayor in Illinois at age 26, announced Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, that he is a candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 4th District, following U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s decision not to seek re-election. Speaking to a packed audience at Gibson’s Restaurant in Oak Brook, Getty addressed the uncertainty many Americans are feeling amid a struggling economy, shifting national and state policies, and increasing political polarization. He said those same types of challenges motivated him to first seek public office in 2009. Getty also reflected on the political climate in Lyons when he first ran for mayor. “There was political turmoil. Residents felt ignored. Services were inconsistent. Too often, those in power were more focused on fighting each other than fighting for the people they were elected to serve,” he said. Getty expressed concern about the nation’s economic instability, rising costs for groceries and healthcare, and what he described as a political system disconnected from every day Americans. Acknowledging that “the road won’t be easy,” Getty said that while he remains a loyal Democrat, he is prepared to run as an Independent candidate in the November 2026 general election.

Photo Credit: Office of Lyons Mayor Chris Getty