Chicago Alderman Challenges Election Rules in Court

Progressive Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-López has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections and its members. He aims to secure a place on the 4th Congressional District ballot. This lawsuit follows a recent board decision that invalidated his candidacy, along with fellow progressive Mayra Macías, due to insufficient signatures.

Sigcho-López argues that the decision was unfair and calls for changes in election rules. He stated, “We spent weeks collecting signatures from thousands of voters only to have them challenged in a rushed process where we had no time to defend them. That’s not protecting elections, that’s protecting the status quo.”

The lawsuit requests that Sigcho-López’s name be included on the ballot and claims that the current laws on independent candidacies are unconstitutional. This legal move is part of a contentious race marked by strategic political actions. The race took a turn when Patty García secured the Democratic nomination after Jesús “Chuy” García announced his retirement. Patty García, the retired congressman’s former chief of staff, was uniquely positioned to gather signatures quickly.

Efforts by Sigcho-López, Macías, and Lyons Mayor Chris Getty to join the race were hindered by challenges to their petition signatures. Despite submitting over 17,000 signatures, both Sigcho-López and Macías were disqualified. They faced the challenge of submitting nearly 11,000 valid signatures and responding swiftly to challenges supported by Garcia’s camp.

Sigcho-López, alongside supporter José Guerra, insists the lawsuit is about ensuring real electoral choice. He remarked, “It’s about whether the people of the 4th District get a real choice in this election or whether political insiders decide elections before a single vote is cast.”

Macías is reviewing the possibility of joining Sigcho-López’s lawsuit. Although she acknowledges the slim chance of success, she hopes the case might ease future independent candidacies, citing the challenging thresholds for independents. Both Matt Dietrich from the Illinois State Board of Elections and Kait Sweeney, representing Patty García, declined to comment on the matter.