For Immediate Release

A Lifelong Democrat, Macías is Running as an Independent to Give Voters a Choice

Macías, a Back of the Yards Native, is Running to Make Life More Affordable, Stand Up to ICE and Protect Democracy as Trump Undermines It

Chicago, IL — Mayra Macías, a Back of the Yards native, former educator, and national advocate for working families and the Latino community, today announced her campaign for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District. A lifelong Democrat who will serve in the Democratic caucus if elected, Macías enters the race to succeed Congressman Chuy García as an Independent, pledging to give 4th District residents a choice at the ballot box in November and a voice in Washington who will tirelessly work to improve their lives.

Macías, raised in a working-class family by Mexican immigrant parents, launches her campaign committed to standing up to the Trump Administration’s attacks on immigrants and fighting for lower costs for Illinois families. Her career has been dedicated to strengthening the Latino community and working-class families. She is running a grassroots-powered campaign and will not accept corporate PAC dollars.

“Nothing has ever been handed to me. Growing up in Back of the Yards, watching my father work as a garbage man and my mother as a home care worker, I learned the value of hard work early on, and it’s guided my entire life,” said Mayra Macías. “I’ve dedicated my career to serving others—from teaching middle school English to leading a national organization that helped the Biden-Harris White House pass transformative legislation that invested in the people right here in our district, including forcing drugmakers to negotiate lower drug costs. 

“Now, I’m running for Congress because life continues to be unaffordable. The cost of rent, groceries, health care and everything else is simply too high and has been out of reach for families like mine ever since I was a kid here. My campaign will focus on tackling this affordability crisis that Trump’s only made worse, protecting our community from Trump’s cruel and reckless deportation machine, and standing up to a wannabe dictator who is actively undermining our democracy. 

“But we can’t effectively fight Trump’s attacks on our democratic system if we’re turning a blind eye to anti-democratic actions here at home by our own Party. Voters will have a choice in this election. Over the next 11 months, I look forward to showing voters why I’m the best Democrat to represent them in Washington. I plan to earn both their trust and their vote.”

Photos of Macías for publication and/or broadcast are available here, here, and here.