Patty Garcia

Patty García is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and earned a Ph.D. in education policy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.¹ Her public biography describes more than 15 years working alongside immigrant and working class families, including people facing housing costs, displacement and immigration enforcement.¹

García worked in Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García's office beginning in 2019, later serving as chief of staff before launching her 2025 campaign; the two are unrelated.² Her roles included district director and chief of staff, overseeing the district's congressional operation and services.¹ Her policy experience has included transportation, infrastructure and education.¹

She describes coalition work with immigrant families facing detention or deportation, tenants and homeowners dealing with rising costs, and labor and neighborhood organizations seeking resources.¹ Her campaign also points to infrastructure funding for roads, transportation, flood control and water projects as part of her congressional office experience.³

Her platform supports Medicare for All, lower prescription costs and Medicare negotiations with drug companies.³ She backs union employment, expanded Pell Grants, student debt relief and neighborhood public schools.³ She opposes privatizing Medicare and Social Security and supports increasing Social Security benefits to address rising expenses.³ On immigration, she supports due process and restructuring enforcement, including abolishing ICE.³ She also calls for ending U.S. military aid and arms shipments to Israel over its war in Gaza.³ She is the Democratic nominee in the 2026 race to replace Chuy García.²