Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s controversial handpicked successor is officially getting a challenge.

Mayra Macías is a lifelong Democrat and Chicago native who has worked on Latino advocacy and in promoting former President Joe Biden’s agenda. She announced her candidacy Wednesday to run as an independent in Illinois' 4th Congressional District. If she is elected, Macías said, she would caucus with Democrats.

"I’ve really focused my whole career on building and serving and making sure that we’re fighting for quality education, health care and affordable housing,” Macías said. “Under the Trump administration, we’re seeing a lot of this progress rolled back.”

García’s surprise retirement announcement in early November created a firestorm and drew a rebuke from his own party . H

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