United States Consultant Danny Davis introduced in July 2025 that he wouldn’t be looking for re-election in Illinois’s seventh Congressional District, motivating 13 Democrats and two Republicans to compete for the seat.
Because the Illinois major on March 17 approaches, three Latino candidates hope to turn out to be the Democratic nominee: Anabel Mendoza, Jazmin J. Robinson, and Felix Tello. The district has never had a Latino representative, and former Rep. Cardiss Collins stays the one lady to have served the district.
Dwelling to neighborhoods reminiscent of Little Villa, Oak Park and the Loop, IL-7 spans 68.4 sq. miles and is identical district that former President Abraham Lincoln represented. The population is primarily Black, adopted by white, Hispanic and Asian residents, respectively.
The district has skilled elevated and intense ICE exercise throughout what the Trump administration referred to as Operation Midway Blitz final 12 months. Moreover, there’s a large revenue hole between areas because the district incorporates neighborhoods from the South and West facet of Chicago.
The next vignettes give an outline to every candidate in alphabetical order by final identify.
Anabel Mendoza
Lifelong resident of Chicago and daughter of Latino immigrants, 28-year-old Anabel Mendoza needs to deal with the working individuals of IL-7 and construct a powerful, equitable district that transcends generations.
Seeing her dad and mom work exhausting and nonetheless wrestle financially rising up motivated Mendoza to work towards enhancing her neighborhood. She is presently the communications director at United We Dream, a youth-led immigration community targeted on immigration rights.
“I’ve not needed to research the affordability disaster to know it,” stated Mendoza. “I’ve lived it.”
Mendoza has three predominant marketing campaign pillars: Addressing affordability, selling social and financial justice, and supporting public well being and security.
Two core affordability areas Mendoza stated she would tackle on the federal stage can be to boost the federal minimal wage – which has been $7.25 since 2009 – “nearer to $30” and prioritize the enlargement of federal grants for entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities.
“There are such a lot of sensible concepts and sensible individuals and minds which are proper right here within the seventh district,” stated Mendoza. “We want to have the ability to carry the assets from our federal authorities again regionally.”
Mendoza helps reparations and the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a technique to transfer towards social and financial justice in IL-7. To advertise public well being and security, she would deal with guaranteeing college students obtain the assets – reminiscent of college counselors and entry to college-level programs – they should really feel supported, which she stated will facilitate their development and profit the neighborhood.
Mendoza believes that her youth permits her to keep up a strong ethical compass, and her years of expertise within the immigration rights motion in communications and media relations positions have proven her the wants of her district and the way success depends on technique.
“We’ve got so many various communities who name the seventh district residence,” stated Mendoza “And whoever sits on this seat – and I actually hope that it’s the individuals of this district to elect me to symbolize them – however whoever is the chief of this seventh district must be one which unifies by way of motion, not simply by way of phrases.”
Jazmin J. Robinson
Human assets skilled Jazmin J. Robinson, 38, initially deliberate on solely supporting an IL-7 candidate, however determined to run herself after seeing what she considers a scarcity of technique on candidate web sites.
“In company America, we’ve got to have a technique,” stated Robinson. “We’ve got to have a enterprise proposal. We’ve got to point out proof of idea. And so I knew I wished to be concerned.”
Robinson’s core coverage is the H.E.A.L. Act, which she created utilizing her data of advantages and doing fixed analysis to teach herself on state and federal insurance policies.
The act focuses on free common healthcare; economically accessible schooling and youngster care; entry to the federal government by banning PAC and lobbyist cash; and selling livable wages and development alternatives for small companies.
“I perceive individuals simply don’t imagine within the authorities they usually have apathy,” stated Robinson. “I’m gonna want [them] to step out of the best way, as a result of there are a few of us who’re nonetheless combating, and I’m gonna want [them] to only vote. In the event you can’t combat for it, don’t hate on it, since you’re simply serving to the one % by saying it’ll by no means occur.”
Rising up Mexican-American, Robinson skilled racism however didn’t let it deter her from being in areas with individuals who held completely different beliefs than her or disrespected her heritage. Believing she ought to “love thy neighbor,” Robinson is worked up about probably having the ability to uplift and help IL-7.
Robinson believes her work in HR has given her an incredible understanding of learn how to develop and ship profitable methods to make sure of us obtain the advantages and dwelling wages they deserve.
“I feel simply to have the flexibility to assist greater than I’m doing proper now can be actually rewarding,” stated Robinson. “And it additionally would simply be an unimaginable honor to take this seat, as a result of I don’t take that calmly both. Persons are really trusting me with their lives and their livelihood, and I might take that duty. It will be an enormous honor, and I might not disappoint them.”
Felix Tello
Govt engineer Felix Tello, 62, immigrated to the U.S. and naturalized when he was 21, rapidly falling “in love with the structure” afterward. He determined to run for consultant after listening to of Davis’ retirement final 12 months.
Tello’s marketing campaign facilities on 5 acts that individually tackle govt overreach, the financial system, immigration reform, autonomy and human rights, and neighborhood wants. He additionally promotes his app, Vote Our Way, as a type of “direct democracy” the place registered voters can share how they’d like their consultant to vote on congressional payments.
“I’m taking an oath to observe your voice,” stated Tello. “It isn’t my agenda. It’s your agenda that I’m following. I’m a consultant. I symbolize you in your agenda. I don’t symbolize myself within the agenda.”
Tello described how he has seen individuals get elected to Congress and turn out to be influenced by particular curiosity and lobbying teams. He defined that he “can’t be purchased” and would symbolize his constituents. Felix sees candidates who wish to ban PACs as “silly.”
By means of assembly with completely different immigrants in IL-7, Tello stated he acknowledges that they’re scared and tells them what precautions they need to take. His Immigration Reform Act criticizes mass deportation, describing learn how to preserve the financial advantages of immigration whereas addressing crime.
“I’ve structured it in a method that doesn’t allow them to reduce in line,” stated Tello. “And it doesn’t essentially must result in citizenship. I’m fairly certain in case you discuss to a lot of the Latinos which are undocumented, they might be dumb and completely happy simply to have the ability to be right here legally and be a resident and by no means have to consider their citizenship.”
Throughout an interview with the Latino Information Community, Tello criticized Mendoza and Robinson, who’re each Latina.
“They are saying they’re professional Latinos and stuff,” stated Tello. “And, I hate to say this, however they don’t know shit in regards to the Latino neighborhood.”
Tello stated he understands the trail of an immigrant within the U.S. and would symbolize each neighborhood in IL-7 equally.
McKenna Candy is a current College of Washington graduate and present freelance journalist who primarily writes science and neighborhood items.
Cowl Photograph (left to proper): 1. Anabel Mendoza talking on the Discussion board for seventh US Congressional District Democratic Candidates at Harry Caray’s seventh Inning Stretch in Streeterville. Video nonetheless. By Britton Struthers-Lugo, February 26, 2026.2. Jazmin Robinson (left) sitting on the Discussion board for seventh US Congressional District Democratic Candidates at Harry Caray’s seventh Inning Stretch in Streeterville. By Britton Struthers-Lugo, February 26, 2026. 3. Felix Tello talking on the Discussion board for seventh US Congressional District Democratic Candidates at Harry Caray’s seventh Inning Stretch in Streeterville. Video nonetheless. By Britton Struthers-Lugo, February 26, 2026.
Editor’s Notes: This story is made doable by way of help from the Therapeutic Illinois Reporting Undertaking, Democracy Lives Right here, a statewide initiative led by the Medill Solutions Journalism Hub and funded by the Field Foundation of Illinois. Illinois Latino Information is among the many newsrooms chosen to take part on this effort, which brings collectively journalists dedicated to strengthening civic life by reporting on neighborhood‑pushed responses to systemic inequities and deepening public understanding of how democracy is lived on the native stage.
