Illinois 4th District
Chuy García (D) is not running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussLupe Castillo
Republican · former Chicago 22nd ward Republican committeewoman
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Castillo has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Castillo.
Patty Garcia
Democrat · Democratic nominee, former chief of staff to Rep. Chuy Garcia
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Garcia, and what Garcia has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 27. A grade needs 4.
Raised $526,691 since January 2025: 51% from PACs and other committees, 47% from people, 3% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Illinois: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Lupe Castillo, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Castillo, so the grade above comes from this list: what Castillo has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked whether the US relationship with Israel is important, she said yes and called Israel a long time ally.
“Yes, very important. They are a long time ally of ours, they can help us with other countries that surround them”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally is with liberty on free nations.
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She chose the answer that the US should selectively help countries growing democracy, while saying the country must take care of itself first.
“We should help those that require help, be it militarily, health or consumables.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She names no country and puts America first alongside helping others, so the free nations test stays unclear.
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She said she cannot stand by while the country heads in a socialist direction.
“I cannot stand by and observe my country head in a socialist direction.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Saying no to socialism is with liberty on free markets.
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Asked how Americans could keep more of their income, she said she would reduce taxes on income, fuel and death.
“Reduce taxes on income, fuel, death.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting named taxes is with liberty on free markets.
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Her campaign letter says she supports no tax on tips and overtime.
“I am the only candidate who supports no tax on tips and overtime, in order to help working class families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting named taxes is with liberty on free markets.
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She strongly agreed that biological males should not be allowed in women's sport or women's spaces and said girls need protecting in bathrooms.
“Our youngest of females need to be protected from males wandering into a girls bathroom, just because they insist on dressing like a woman.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport and spaces female is with liberty on equal rights.
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Her campaign letter says she will protect women's sports and girls' bathrooms.
“I am the only candidate that will protect women's sports and girl's bathrooms.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
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Asked what separation of church and state means, she said church and government should stay out of each other's issues, and that the country is one nation under God.
“The church should not get involved with government issues that have nothing to do with the church and visa versa.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She names no law either way on religious rules in government, so the conscience test stays unclear.
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She said she would work in Congress to strengthen border security and to redirect money now spent on housing and processing asylum seekers.
“to overhaul our immigration process, strengthen our border security, and properly distribute funds and personnel currently being used to feed, house, and process questionable asylum seekers.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Strengthening border security and tightening asylum is with liberty on borders.
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She strongly agreed the US should do more to physically secure the southern border and said the country must have a secured border.
“We must have a secured border because of the fact that we are a sovereign nation, we have to ensure the safety of the citizens of this nation.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border is with liberty on borders.
Patty Garcia, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Garcia, so the grade above comes from this list: what Garcia has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Her campaign site says Israel's conduct in Gaza is genocide.
“Patty believes that what the Israeli government has been doing to Palestinians in Gaza through mass murder and starvation is genocide.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Calling Israel's war genocide is against liberty on free nations.
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Her campaign site lists an end to all US military assistance and arms shipments to Israel as her position.
“Cessation of all United States military assistance and arms shipments to Israel in its attack on Gaza”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Cutting off weapons to Israel is against liberty on free nations.
-
Her campaign site says she wants to end all wars and occupation, with no country or policy named.
“Patty is an advocate for ending all wars, occupation, and U.S. policies that promote violence abroad”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
'End all wars' with no policy named does not settle the free nations test, so it is unclear.
-
Her campaign site says she backs Medicare for All.
“Patty backs Medicare for All to ensure healthcare as a human right”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
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Her campaign site lists moving funds into health care, education and infrastructure as part of her peace agenda, without naming the defence budget.
“Re-channeling of funds into domestic areas such as health care, education, and infrastructure”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She does not say whose funds or how much, so a cut to the defence budget is not settled and the line is unclear.
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At the launch of her campaign she called for abolishing ICE.
“It's time to abolish ICE and hold Trump and his entire clan accountable.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Abolishing ICE is against liberty on borders.
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Her campaign site says she supports restructuring immigration enforcement agencies, including abolishing ICE.
“Fundamentally restructuring immigration enforcement agencies, including abolishing ICE”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Abolishing ICE is against liberty on borders.
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Her campaign site says she supports a pathway to citizenship for people here illegally.
“Patty supports a pathway to citizenship”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship is against liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Chris Getty (Independent), Ed Hershey (Working Class).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Illinois 4th District
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