Race · November 3, 2026
U.S. House · Illinois's 4th District
4 candidates on the ballot — an open seat, with no incumbent running.1
§1Candidates
Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.
§2Side by side
Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.
| Fact | Patty Garcia | Lupe Castillo | Ed Hershey | Chris Getty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Democratic1 | Republican1 | Working Class Party1 | Independent1 |
| Status | Open seat | Open seat | Open seat | Open seat |
| Raised | $526,691 through October 14, 20262 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | $412,838 through October 14, 20263 |
| Cash on hand | $156,7112 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | $103,1703 |
| Outside spending | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | $261,820 for · $0 against4 |
| Vouchers and education savings accounts | Her campaign website says public education should be funded, protected and accountable to students, parents and educators rather than privatized for profit.5 | Her campaign website says she supports school choice so that everyone, not only the wealthy, has access to educational opportunities, including school choice for poor families.6, | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign website says he will evaluate school choice programs based on whether they improve opportunities for all students.8 |
| Stock trading by members of Congress | Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks Her campaign website says she is in favor of ending stock trading by members of Congress.5 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks His campaign website says he will ban congressional stock trading.8 |
| Health insurance system | One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All) Her campaign website says she backs Medicare for All to ensure health care as a human right.5 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign website says he wants to expand affordable coverage options, protect people with pre-existing conditions and increase price transparency, and says this does not mean choosing between two extremes.8 |
| Immigration enforcement inside the country | Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies Her campaign website says she supports fundamentally restructuring immigration enforcement agencies, including abolishing ICE.5 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | Deport only people convicted of serious crimes or who threaten national security His campaign website says immigration enforcement should focus on violent offenders, human traffickers and national security threats, respect due process and treat people with dignity.8 |
| Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers | A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks Her campaign website says she supports a pathway to citizenship and protections for Dreamers and mixed-status families.5 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign website says he will protect Dreamers by passing permanent legislation and create an earned legal status process for long-term undocumented immigrants who meet the requirements established by law.8 |
| Social Security benefit levels | Increase benefits, for example with larger yearly cost-of-living raises Her campaign website says she opposes reducing funds for Medicare and Social Security or privatizing them, and supports improving Social Security benefits to help seniors cope with rising expenses.5 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign website says he will protect earned benefits for current retirees and those approaching retirement, protect annual cost-of-living adjustments, and keep Social Security guaranteed rather than replaced with private investment accounts.8 |
| Federal spending levels | Not found in the public sources we checked | Her campaign website says she wants to cut spending and debt and will work to eliminate wasteful government expenditures so that taxpayer dollars go directly to needy Americans.6 | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign website says he will reduce wasteful federal spending, improve accountability, and eliminate programs that do not deliver results.8 |
Issues only one candidate has addressed
By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.
Patty Garcia — 11 issues
- Federal minimum wageHer campaign website lists raising the federal minimum wage among her top priorities.5
- Union organizing rulesMake it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)Her campaign website lists passing the PRO Act among her top priorities.5
- Student loan forgivenessHer campaign website lists expanded Pell Grants and student debt relief among the ways she would make college more affordable.5
- Campaign finance rulesLimit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens UnitedHer campaign website says she is in favor of reversing Citizens United and combating the influence of dark money in politics.5
- Voting by mailHer campaign website says she is in favor of increasing early and mail-in voting opportunities.5
- Child tax creditHer campaign website lists expanding the Child Tax Credit among her top priorities.5
- Military aid to IsraelReduce or end military aid to IsraelHer campaign website calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for an end to all U.S. military assistance and arms shipments to Israel for its attack on Gaza.5
- Military spendingHer campaign website says she favors re-channeling funds into domestic areas such as health care, education and infrastructure, and an end to all wars and occupation.5
- Who decides on military actionHer campaign website says she favors more congressional control over the use of military force.5
- Highway and transit fundingShift more money to public transit, walking and bikingHer campaign website says she advocates substantial investment in public transport and updating current public transportation systems.5
- Medicare drug price negotiationHer campaign website says she supports letting Medicare bargain for better prescription prices from pharmaceutical companies.5
Lupe Castillo — 4 issues
- Transgender students in school sports
- Voter ID
- Fraud and improper payments in federal programs
- Taxes on tips and overtimeHer campaign website's Values page says she supports no tax on tips and overtime to help working-class families.7
Chris Getty — 13 issues
- Abortion lawHis campaign website says he believes abortion should remain legal and opposes a nationwide abortion ban.8
- Birth control and IVFHis campaign website says he will protect access to contraception and to IVF.8
- Police fundingHis campaign website says he will support law enforcement with the training, resources and technology needed to prevent crime and apprehend dangerous offenders.8
- TariffsHis campaign website says he will oppose policies and tariffs that unnecessarily increase the cost of groceries, energy and other everyday essentials.8
- Term limits for CongressHis campaign website says he supports congressional term limits.8
- Data centers and electricity costsHis campaign website says communities should have a voice in where and how data centers are built, and that large technology companies should pay an appropriate share of the energy and infrastructure costs their facilities create.8
- Nuclear powerHis campaign website says America needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy in which nuclear energy, natural gas, oil, wind, solar and hydroelectric power all have a role.8
- Background checks for gun salesHis campaign website says he wants to keep guns away from dangerous people through effective background checks and strong enforcement of laws targeting violent criminals and illegal gun trafficking.8
- Zoning and new housingHis campaign website says he will increase the supply of affordable housing by reducing barriers that delay new housing construction and encouraging local development.8
- Border wall and barriersAdd barriers only in selected places, relying mainly on technology and agentsHis campaign website says he will secure the border using the right combination of personnel, technology and physical infrastructure where it makes sense.8
- Federal income tax ratesHis campaign website says he opposes unnecessary tax increases, believes everyone should pay what they legally owe and those with greater means can contribute more, and supports enforcing tax laws fairly and closing loopholes that allow large tax breaks.8
- Data privacyHis campaign website says he will establish stronger rules for how personal information can be collected, stored and used.8
- Rules for artificial intelligenceHis campaign website says he will support AI innovation and research while establishing practical safeguards against misuse.8
Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.