By: Ashmar Mandou
Two independent candidates running for the 4th Congressional District seat were rejected by the Illinois State Board of Elections Tuesday due to invalid amount of petition signatures.
Candidates Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macias vying to replace retiring U.S. Representative Jesus “Chuy” Garcia were removed from the November ballot by a unanimous vote from the Illinois State Board of Elections stating that neither candidate had enough “valid petition signatures to qualify.” Both candidates criticized the decision.
“It is a sad day for democracy when the two Latino candidates that are running as independents — because we were not allowed to run as Democrats — are kicked off the ballot. It is a sad day when over 30,000 voters, their voices are silenced, their signatures invalidated,” said Macías during a joint press conference with fellow independent candidate Byron Sigcho Lopez after Tuesday’s hearing. “This Board is supposed to be upholding democracy, and yet we’re seeing their very actions subverting it.”
Sigcho-Lopez vowed he would go to court to challenge the board’s ruling, stating he will take the issue to the Illinois Supreme Court, if needed. “Today, we see unethical attorneys, unethical lobbyists, they’re stealing this election. This is a shame for our state, disenfranchising Latino and Latina voters,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “Today, democracy dies, and the trust of the people dies.” According to the Illinois State Board of Elections both needed to file 10,816 valid signatures to appear on the ballot. Macias had filed 9,758 valid signatures and Sigcho-Lopez filed 9,594 valid signatures.
“My work isn’t over just because we’re not on the ballot. I’m going to continue fighting. We’re still exploring our options. I want to continue serving the people of the 4th Congressional District because with or without a title, my commitment was real,” said Macias.
Because both candidates ran as independents, both candidates needed to gather more than 10,000 signatures to appear on the ballot for the 4th congressional seat, while established party candidates like Patty Garcia only needed to gather 697 signatures to appear on the ballot. Garcia served as chief of staff to Congressman Chuy Garcia, no relation. Rep. Garcia is one of five Illinois Democrats who is not running for re-election to Congress in November.
Currently, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty is the only independent candidate running in the 4th Congressional District. His petitions were not challenged.
Former Congresswoman Marie Newman testified at Tuesday’s hearing and said, “Removing the candidates’ name from the ballot is a blow to Chicago voters who believe they have the right to choose who will lead them next.”
