Congressional District 4: Lopez

Two impressive candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination in the 4th Congressional District.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia of Chicago is pursuing a fourth term in Congress. His opponent in the Democratic primary, Raymond Lopez, is a Chicago alderman who has served on the city council since 2015.

Both Democrats agree on several issues. They support codifying abortion rights, say changes are needed to fix the U.S. immigration system and want the national minimum wage increased to $15 an hour.

But Garcia and Lopez have differing opinions on several major topics, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Garcia said Israel had a right to defend itself after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. But he said the continued military response by Israel has resulted in the “needless killing” of civilians in Gaza. He adds that there should be an immediate cease-fire.

Lopez says the United States needs to stand with Israel and support its efforts to respond to the terrorist attack and protect its citizens.

We like both candidates. But we were impressed when Lopez talked about political dysfunction in Washington D.C. and his desire to find the middle ground. He also has views that more closely align with suburban voters in the district, which encompasses parts of Cook and DuPage counties, including portions of Elmhurst, Oak Brook and Hinsdale.

Lopez is endorsed.