Rep. Chuy García vows to defeat Lori Lightfoot as Chicago's first Latino mayor

Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García is fighting to become Chicago's first Latino mayor in an intense battle to defeat fellow Democrat, Lori Lightfoot, widely recognized for her woke policies. 

Garcia, 66, who entered the race after winning re-election to U.S. Congress last year, is now one of the race's frontrunners.

Political analysts say the election remains close, and will most likely result in a runoff race between the top two vote winners.

Born in Durango, Mexico, and raised in the Latino neighborhoods of Pilsen and La Villita in southwestern Chicago since the age of nine, García has not forgotten his origins. 

He has even heralded the fighting spirit of Doroteo Arango in his campaign speeches, one of the main leaders of the Mexican Revolution.

"I am a centaur like my countryman Pancho Villa and I am going to carry out a revolution," García told EFE.

On Feb. 28, García will try to unseat Lori Lightfoot, who has lost her footing as mayor of the third largest city in the United States, saturated with criticism of woke policies that purportedly led to a surging crime rate. 

Under Lightfoot's administration, homicides rose to their highest number in 25 years in 2021, according to police department records, outpacing Los Angeles and New York City.

Lightfoot is facing a total of eight challengers.

"We are in murky waters because the mayoress has not kept her promises," he told EFE. 

"She has completely failed in terms of public security and the city has lost investment to other cities and economic development.

"The community supports me because we want to break the barrier and make history," added García, who was one of the last candidates to join the race and quickly climbed positions in the electoral preferences.

The congressman ran a mayoral bid in 2015 that galvanized a multicultural coalition of voters with a chance to become Chicago's first Latino mayor, but ultimately lost to Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the April 2015 runoff.

In Garcia's second attempt, he faces the challenge of inspiring and securing in a crime-ridden city, hoping to reassure residents that he can keep them safe without rolling back reforms sparked by violence.

Lightfoot has been criticized for her carefree attitude amid the soaring crime rate.

Last month she received scrutiny for cheerfully dancing in Chicago's streets during a Lunar New Year parade after she was captured on video busting moves amid a drumline during a Sunday parade.

“Since @chicagosmayor’s term began, Chicago has suffered 2,278 homicides and over 9,000 shot. Since January 1, the city has endured 41 homicides and 194 shot,” one Chicago outlet said in a tweet.