Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-López is taking his fight for a spot on the November congressional ballot to court after Illinois election officials ruled he fell short on valid petition signatures. The progressive 25th Ward alderman says the rules shut voters out, while state authorities say his paperwork did not clear the legal threshold. His lawsuit now puts Illinois’ steep independent-candidate requirements back under a judicial microscope.
Sigcho-López filed a lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections and its members seeking to regain access to the race for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District, according to the Chicago Tribune. José Guerra, a 4th District resident and Sigcho-López supporter, joined him as a plaintiff. The complaint asks a court to declare the Illinois law governing independent congressional bids unconstitutional and include Sigcho-López on the ballot.
The legal move follows the State Officers Electoral Board’s unanimous July 21 decision to remove Sigcho-López and Mayra Macías from the November race. WTTW reported that Sigcho-López was 1,222 valid signatures short, while the state’s official candidate records show his status changed to removed after the board’s ruling.
Why Sigcho-López Was Removed
The petition fight turned on a punishing signature gap. Independent candidates needed 10,816 valid signatures for the congressional race, compared with 697 signatures Patty García needed to secure the Democratic nomination, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Both Sigcho-López and Macías submitted 17,304 signatures, the maximum allowed, but challenges invalidated enough of them to push both below the required minimum. The board’s decision left Lyons Mayor Chris Getty as the only independent candidate still positioned to appear on the ballot.
Sigcho-López argues that the issue is bigger than his own campaign. He told the Chicago Tribune that the lawsuit concerns whether 4th District voters get “a real choice” or whether political insiders can effectively settle elections before voters cast ballots. Macías is reviewing the complaint with attorneys and could seek to join the case.
The Lawsuit’s Bigger Ballot-Access Question
Illinois law generally requires independent candidates in district races to collect signatures equal to a percentage of the prior vote, with additional limits and statewide minimums built into the statute. The relevant provision, Illinois Election Code Section 10-3, is at the center of the challenge.
A court ruling for Sigcho-López could reopen the 4th District contest and potentially create a path for other independent candidates facing similar requirements. For now, the November field includes Democratic nominee Patty García, Republican Lupe Castillo and Getty, according to CBS Chicago.
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