Two of the three candidates who filed as independents in the 4th Congressional race have had their nominating petitions challenged.
Byron Sigcho-Lopez, the alderman of Chicago’s 25th Ward, and social activist Mayra Macias will face a petition challenge process involving hearings by the Illinois State Board of Elections that could take into the first week of August to resolve.
The third declared independent, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, was not challenged. He will be on the November ballot, along with Democrat Patty Garcia, Republican Lupe Castillo and Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey.
Would be candidates seeking to qualify for the general election ballot as independents or members of a new party were to submit a minimum of 10,816 valid voter signatures on their nominating petitions for 4th District sat. General political wisdom holds that candidates should gather double that number to assure that their petitions survive legal challenge.
Getty, who filed his petitions the morning of the first day petitions were accepted by the state, submitted approximately 18,000 signatures.
Nominating petitions may be formally challenged on several grounds. The most common allegations are that a candidate does not have enough valid signatures to qualify, due to a variety of reasons, including non-matching signatures, conflicting addresses, or the person signing not living at the address listed. Entire sheets of petitions can be invalidated if the person circulating the sheets is proven to be legally unqualified to circulate the petitions.
The specific reasons for the objections to Macias’ and Sigcho-Lopez’s petitions will not be publicly disclosed “prior to the initial meeting of the State Officers Electoral Board.”
What is publicly known is that one of the three objectors of record, Jeremy Rivera, of Albany Avenue in Chicago, is listed in State Board of Elections records as having done campaign work for Melrose Park State Rep. Norma Hernandez (D-77).
ISBE records show that between July 21 and Dec. 31, 2025, Rivera was paid $7,400 by the Hernandez campaign. A Jeremy Rivera listed as living at a different address was one of eight individuals who requested copies of both Macias and Sigcho-Lopez’s petitions in May.
The 4th Congressional District is overwhelmingly Democratic and majority Hispanic. In his four general election races, retiring Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia won by no less than 40 points.