Four candidates are running in the general election to represent Illinois' 4th Congressional District on Nov. 3. Patty Garcia (D) and Chris Getty, a Democrat running as an independent, lead in media attention, fundraising, and endorsements. Incumbent Jesus Garcia (D) is not running for re-election.
Central to the election are claims that Jesus Garcia attempted to handpick his chief of staff, Patty Garcia (no relation), to be his successor. In November 2025, Jesus Garcia announced after the Democratic primary filing deadline that he would not run for re-election because of health and family issues. Patty Garcia was the only other candidate to file for the primary. The Chicago Tribune reported that Jesus Garcia's staff helped Patty Garcia collect the required 697 signatures needed to make the primary ballot.
Democrats Getty, Mayra Macías, and Byron Sigcho-Lopez all criticized the way in which Jesus Garcia withdrew from the primary to allegedly help Patty Garcia win election, claiming it was undemocratic. As they missed the Democratic filing deadline, the three filed as independents, with state law requiring each to secure at least 10,816 signatures to make the general election ballot. A senior staffer for Jesus Garcia and at least two of Patty Garcia's signature gatherers challenged the validity of Macías and Sigcho-Lopez's signatures. On July 21, 2026, the Illinois State Board of Elections said Macías and Sigcho-Lopez did not gather enough valid signatures to make the ballot. Sigcho-Lopez said he would challenge the ruling in court.
