BREAKING: Luis Gutiérrez Is Moving Back To Chicago From Puerto Rico To Run Against Delia Ramirez

The Rahm Emanuel Machine Strikes

What's inthe briefcase, Luis?

When Rahm Emanuel needs someone with an Hispanic name to say something nice about him to the media, his team roles out former (1993-2019) Congressman Luis Gutiérrez. He lives in Puerto Rico now but has decided he wants to represent Chicago in Congress again— specifically the district Delia Ramirez represents, northwest Chicago plus some of the city’s southwest suburbs, like Naperville, Elgin, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Wheaton, Cicero, La Grange, Glendale Heights, West Chicago, Bartlett, Winfield, Berwyn, and Glen Ellyn. It was once represented by father and son Bill and Dan Lipinski, two of the most conservative Democrats in Congress in their days as Blue Dog stalwarts. Since 2023, it has been represented by Ramirez, one of the most progressive members of Congress.

Gutiérrez isn’t conservative; he’s just an establishment shill. And he will be extravagantly financed by Chicago billionaires, Rahm’s anti-progressive machine and, oddly, by the genocide-coalition. In 2022, when the same bunch ran Chicago Alderman Gil Villegas in the primary, Ramirez trounced him nearly three to one. For all that billionaire and pro-genocide backing, Villegas only managed to get 23.7% of the vote. The super-reactionary Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) spent over $157,000 on the race and they are also involved with recruiting Gutiérrez. The Charter Schools Action Fund and the National Association of Realtors also helped finance Villegas, who was also backed by, Reid Hoffman, the Democratic Party’s most reactionary sugar daddy, who, I might add, personally sabotaged Kamala Harris’ race by putting strings on his contributions that forced her to back away from pro-working class positions and embrace corporate priorities.

Ramirez, who was running aggressively on Medicare-for-All and the Green New Deal was supported by the Working Families Party, Indivisible, AOC, Bernie, Pramila and Chuy García from the district next door.

With Emanuel almost certain to run for the Senate (unless Pritzker decides not to run for governor), he wants as few progressives on the ballot as possible. They’re under the impression that Ramirez will be their easiest mark and more likely to lose to Gutiérrez than she was to Villegas. If you’d like to contribute to Ramirez’s reelection campaign, you can do it here on the page that lists Congress’ best current members. ProgressivePunch rates for voting record among the top ten best in Congress, tied with Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar. Marie Newman, who represented part of the district before Ramirez ran, told us that “Congresswoman Ramirez has been a fighter in Congress. She is a brilliant champion for veterans, affordable housing, immigrants and creating equity for all. I am impressed with her deep knowledge of her district, excellent policy background and being fully engaged throughout her district. Simply a prolific member of Congress and a great partner in problem solving.”