Illinois Election Board Removes Two Candidates from Garcia’s Congressional Ballot
The Illinois State Board of Elections has removed two independent candidates, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macias, from the November ballot for U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's congressional seat in Chicago. The board cited their failure to collect the required…
Chicago, IL, July 21, 2026 —
Two independent candidates, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macias, have been removed from the November ballot for U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s congressional seat in Chicago. The Illinois State Board of Elections made the decision, citing the candidates’ failure to gather the required minimum number of valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Sigcho-Lopez and Macias have alleged that their removal from the ballot is the result of a coordinated effort orchestrated by U.S. Rep. Garcia and his chief of staff, Patty Garcia. The candidates claim this action was intended to reduce competition for the congressional seat.
The Illinois State Board of Elections did not immediately provide further details regarding the specific number of signatures collected or the threshold required for qualification. The removal of these candidates means that Patty Garcia will now face a less competitive race for the congressional seat.
The exact number of valid signatures required for independent candidates to appear on the congressional ballot in Illinois was not specified in the provided information. Similarly, the timeline for the signature collection and verification process was not detailed.
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macias have stated their belief that the signature requirement was used as a barrier to prevent their participation in the election. The Illinois State Board of Elections has confirmed the removal of the candidates but has not commented on the allegations of a coordinated effort.
Story summarized from the original created by Francia Garcia Hernandez on blockclubchicago.org, see more information here.
