Two independent candidates, Mayra Macias and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, are accusing U.S. Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García of using machine tactics to keep them off the ballot in the 4th congressional district race. García’s chief of staff, Patty Garcia, is the Democratic candidate for the seat.

Accusations of Disenfranchisement

Macias said it is clear García is ‘actively’ working to keep her off the ballot after a policy adviser for García testified to the state’s Board of Elections about his efforts to prove some of the signatures she collected are invalid. The adviser, Manuel Diaz, told an Illinois State Board of Elections officer that he gathered evidence that shows a person in Macias’ campaign misstated her address.

Diaz’s testimony — and documents submitted to the Board of Elections — are proof that García is behind these efforts, Macias said. Macias is one of two independent Latino candidates challenging Democratic candidate Patty Garcia for the 4th congressional office held by Chuy García, no relation to Patty Garcia.

Challenging Petition Signatures

The two candidates emerged as independent contenders after Chuy García dropped out of the race at the last minute, which cleared the path for his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, to be the only Democratic candidate on the ballot. Chuy García has faced heavy criticism for that move, with some saying he waited to drop out so he could steer the race in Patty Garcia’s favor, effectively hand-picking his successor.

Macias and Sigcho-Lopez could be knocked off the ballot entirely if they cannot prove to the state’s board of elections that hundreds of petition signatures they collected are valid — a costly and challenging task candidates had to complete in a limited time, they said.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.