By Illinois Review
The Democratic Party is once again proving that when it comes to elections, they trust themselves – not the voters. And this week, the scheme was so blatant that even members of their own party said enough.
On November 18, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a rare bipartisan resolution of disapproval (H. Res. 987) rebuking Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL) for what lawmakers called a deliberate attempt to manipulate the 2026 election and handpick his successor in Illinois’s 4th Congressional District.
The vote was 236–183. Every Republican voted yes – and so did 23 Democrats who were willing to acknowledge the obvious: voters were denied a real election.
This wasn’t a censure, but it was still a forceful public condemnation. The resolution says García’s actions “undermined the process of a free and fair election” and were “incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution.” That is a stunning judgment for a sitting member of Congress – and a damning commentary on a political party that increasingly sees democracy as something to be managed, not honored.
The controversy centers on a scheme that critics say was designed to guarantee that García’s own chief of staff, Patty García (no relation), would inherit his deep-blue Chicago seat without facing a primary challenge.
The Illinois 4th District is one of the safest Democratic districts in the country – Democrats win it by more than 40 points. Whoever wins the primary wins the seat.
And García knew exactly what he was doing.
On October 27, he filed reelection paperwork, signaling he would seek another term. Then, on November 3 – the last possible day for candidates to enter the race – Patty García filed as the only Democrat running. At 5 p.m., the filing deadline closed. No other Democrats could enter.
The next day, November 4, García suddenly withdrew, citing personal and family reasons, including his wife’s multiple sclerosis and the adoption of his late daughter’s child. Those reasons are sympathetic. The timing, however, is impossible to ignore.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), a moderate Democrat, called it what it was: “election subversion.” She said García effectively denied the people of IL-04 their right to choose their representative by “coronating” his preferred successor behind closed doors.
Democratic leadership rushed to shield García. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the rebuke as a “distraction,” while Rep. Jan Schakowsky said the resolution was a “shame.” But the problem is bigger than Chuy García – it’s a pattern.
Democrats tried a similar strategy with Kamala Harris in 2024, attempting to force voters into accepting a pre-selected nominee. It backfired then, and it’s backfiring now.
What happened in Chicago’s 4th District is exactly the kind of political arrogance that drives voters away: politicians who think they know better than the people they serve, manipulating deadlines and exploiting loopholes to keep power in the family.
Democrats talk endlessly about “defending democracy.” Yet, when given the chance, they undermine it in their own backyard.
And this time, 23 Democrats finally said the quiet part out loud.
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