Ald. Raymond Lopez announces bid for Congress, challenging Chuy Garcia

CHICAGO - Without likely support from Illinois’ Democratic congressional machine, 15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez is challenging incumbent Congressman Jesus Chuy Garcia in the 4th Congressional district.

On Tuesday, FOX 32 caught up with Lopez who says the growing migrant crisis is central to his motivation to challenge a sitting Democrat.

"The federal government trying to walk back any responsibility for caring for these individuals and leaving it onto cities like Chicago and New York and other places to fend for themselves and come up with solutions without any help is a failure," Lopez said. "It’s Chuy’s failure."

Garcia’s office went on the offensive calling into question Lopez’s ties to embattled former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, who next month will be in court facing charges of extortion, bribery, and embezzlement.

Lopez calls the attack politics as usual.

"I was not named in an FBI recording, he was—I wasn’t the one standing next to a disgraced speaker of the House in the ComEd scandal, he was—he says there are allegations about me? I’d love to know what they are because throwing things out like that is not only dangerous, it’s unethical," Lopez said.

The March Democratic primary will see voters decide between two opposing ideologies; Garcia’s progressive agenda versus Lopez’s more conservative approach, and with the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Garcia is more than a formidable opponent, he’s the odds on favorite.

Lopez remains confident nonetheless.

"This isn’t just about money, this is about connecting with the people in front of them on their doorstep and talking about what matters to them, and I know that this guy here is going to out work them any day of the week," Lopez said.

In a statement, Garcia's campaign called the move nothing more than an "attention grabbing stunt."

"Alderman Ray Lopez's latest run for a new office is nothing more than an attention-grabbing stunt," said García campaign manager Manny Díaz. "His dependence on Ed Burke, a figure drowning in federal racketeering charges, raises serious concerns about his ethics. Lopez's long-standing relationship with Burke, which now includes renting office space in the same Burke compound raided by the FBI in 2019, has also extended to a disturbing pattern of allegedly attempting to extort small business owners in his ward."

Garcia was elected to the U.S. House back in 2018.