Rep. Chuy García has denied intentionally aiding his chief of staff’s campaign by clearing the way for her to bypass a primary, but a document shows he was the first to sign her nominating petitions, days before he announced his retirement. The document, filed with Illinois elections officials, reveals that García and his closest allies signed their names to the petition, with the form dated Nov. 1, two days before the filing deadline and three days before García formally announced his retirement. This comes amid mounting pressure on García as the House prepares to vote on a resolution that would formally rebuke his actions.
According to the petition signature page submitted by Patty Garcia to the Illinois Board of Elections, García and his allies, including Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, Illinois state Sen. Celina Villanueva, state Reps. Aaron Ortiz and Norma Hernandez, and Chicago City Council members Jeylú Gutiérrez and Michael Rodriguez, signed their names to the petition. The form, dated Nov. 1, was submitted two days before the filing deadline and three days before García formally announced his retirement. The document raises questions about García’s involvement in the process, as it appears he was the first to sign the petition, despite his claim that he did not circulate petitions for any Congressional campaign except his own.
García’s spokesperson, Fabiola Rodriguez-Ciampoli, emphasized that signing a petition is not the same as circulating them, stating that