Reclaim Chicago and our suburban chapters and collar county affiliates are committed to electing people who will put the interests of people and our communities before corporate profits and the interests of the very wealthy. At the municipal, county and state levels we often endorse progressives who are running against corporate-owned incumbents in Democratic Primary contests. Below are Reclaim Chicago’s endorsements for the 2019 Chicago municipal elections. (Above photo by Deana Rutherford.)
Bernie Sanders for President
“Bernie Sanders has a lifetime commitment to the working class. He is a fearless champion in fighting for a fair economy and a just society,” says Colin Bird-Martinez, a member of The People’s Lobby’s Endorsement Committee. “Senator Sanders and The People’s Lobby are aligned on our most urgent policy positions, as well as the necessity of building a multi-racial, multi-generational movement of millions of people to fight for them.” Those positions include fighting for high-quality “Medicare for All,” ending mass incarceration, comprehensive immigration reform, eliminating dependence on fossil fuels that is devastating our planet, making public colleges free for everyone, and making sure the rich and corporations pay their fair share in taxes. Read more
Kim Foxx for re-election as Cook County State’s Attorney
“Kim Foxx believes in our liberation,” says Rev. Lawrence Marshall, a leader with The People’s Lobby and pastor of Payne Chapel AME Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois. “Kim Foxx is co-championing our peoples’ visions by eliminating racist and prejudice practices from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and expanding restorative justice practices.”
Marie Newman for United States Congress (IL-3)
Marie Newman is running her second race to unseat one of the most right-wing Democrats in Congress. Newman came within 2,000 votes of winning in 2018, and we believe she can win in 2020. Newman supports Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, immigrants’ rights, universal childcare, a $15 federal minimum wage, global trade policies that respect workers’ rights and the environment and so much more. Read more
Robert Peters for Illinois State Senate (IL-13)
Robert Peters is running for election to the Illinois Senate representing the 13th district. Peters was appointed to fill the seat of Kwame Raoul who was elected Illinois Attorney General. He passed 13 bills in his first year in office, including a bill to ban private prisons and immigrant detention centers. Peters served as the Political Director of The People’s Lobby and Reclaim Chicago, training and supporting grassroots candidates to run for state and local office and helping win bail reform, a strategic campaign in the fight against mass incarceration. Read more
Theresa Mah for Illinois State Representative (IL-2)
Over the last two years, Mah has had a fantastic voting record, supporting our campaigns to close corporate tax loopholes and win a fair state budget, reform Illinois’ broken bail system, create a more just and sustainable economy and more. The People’s Lobby was part of Theresa Mah’s people-powered campaign against the son of the previous incumbent to win her first race in 2016, becoming the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Mah is of the founding co-chairs of the newly formed Progressive Caucus in the Illinois House of Representatives. Read more
Lindsey LaPointe for State Representative (IL-19)
A former social worker, Lindsey LaPointe is deeply committed to a state government that puts the needs of the most vulnerable first: LaPointe is running on fairer taxes, more accessible and affordable health care, property tax relief for local homeowners and better education for all of our students. LaPointe has significant experience in public policy, state government and community work, including supporting criminal justice reforms that promote the diversion of non-violent offenders from state prisons by providing community-based services. LaPointe faces three conservative challengers in the March 17, 2020 primary.
Will Guzzardi for State Representative (IL-39)
Rep. Guzzardi is running for his fourth term. He is the founding co-chair of the new Illinois House Progressive Caucus and has been championing the interests of working families and the environment since day one. In his last term, Guzzardi shepherded the $15 minimum wage bill through the Illinois House and passed a bill capping the costs of insulin for thousands of people, a first step to ensuring Illinoisan can afford their insulin. Guzzardi continues to champion the Fair Tax and is one of the leading legislators fighting to lift Illinois’ ban on rent control.
Nidia Carranza for State Representative (IL-3)
Nidia Carranza is a CPS Pre-K bilingual teacher, union member, and community organizer raised on Chicago’s northwest side. Having seen the challenges her students and their families face every day, Nidia has worked in her community to improve public schools, keep working families in their homes, and defend immigrant families from President Trump’s deportation regime.
Kevin Olickal for Illinois State Representative (IL-16)
Kevin Olickal is running for election to the Illinois general assembly as State Representative for the 16th district. Inspired to run against an appointed incumbent for a seat that has been held by an appointed candidate for decades, Kevin holds solid progressive views. He is committed to TPL’s criminal justice reform agenda, including ending money bond and dramatically reducing pretrial incarceration. He seeks to fight for the district’s working class residents and has shown a knack for inspiring engagement from new donors.
Alderperson Daniel La Spata for 1st Ward Committeeperson
La Spata was elected alderperson in March 2019, and has been fighting gentrification and standing up to developers in Chicago’s first ward. He’s been an important voice for a budget that calls for revenue from corporations to fund services for our neighborhoods The former, pro “development at all costs”, alderman who La Spata defeated by 20 points still holds the position of first ward committeeman.
Alderperson Andre Vasquez for 40th Ward Committeeperson
Vasquez was elected alderperson in March 2019. He is collaborating with The People’s Lobby on getting corporate and developer money out of local politics, and he’s been instrumental in the progressive caucus’ call for revenue from corporation to fund services for our neighborhoods. The former alderman who was Rahm Emanuel’s floor leader still holds this position.
Halle Quezada for 50th Ward Committeeperson
Halle is a CPS teacher at Boone Elementary, a mother, and a water safety activist. Quezada decided to run after former State Senator Ira Silverstein resigned as committeeperson and appointed his wife, Alderperson Debra Silverstein, to the position. Quezada is running to help restore faith in our democratic process by bringing transparency and community voices to the 50th Ward Committeeperson office.
What the heck is a Committeeperson?
A committeeman (or a committeeperson) has tremendous power. They appoint individuals to fill vacancies when elected officials depart mid-term, they recommend judges, and they are responsible for the Democratic Party’s work to engage voters. For example, when State Representative Luis Arroyo resigned following accusations of bribery, Committeemen from that legislative district (including Arroyo who refuses to resign as committeeman of the 36th Ward) appointed an executive from People’s Gas, a utility with tremendous lobbying power in Springfield, to fill the seat. We need committeepeople who will appoint people who share our values.