Believe it or not, it is once again election season — this time, for the Illinois Democratic Party primaries on March 17. We know — we’re not too thrilled with the Democratic Party right now, either. In fact, the Democratic Machine establishment holds a share of the blame for many of the problems we’re facing today. However, this is the exact reason why we need to elect as many progressive, outsider candidates as possible who are redefining what is possible in politics.
We need candidates who come from the working class, who understand that the status quo is not working, and who will demonstrate bold and innovative leadership — now more than ever. 33rd Ward Working Families is proud to endorse these five candidates who will push against the status quo on issues such as affordability, housing, safety, and more.
Meet the Candidates
Miguel Alvelo Rivera for Illinois’ 40th House District
33rd Ward Working Families is proud to endorse Miguel Alvelo Rivera for State Representative of Illinois's 40th District.
As a lifelong activist and executive director of an organization focused on defending the rights of day laborers and domestic workers, Miguel has a strong history of fighting for this community. His focus on immigrant rights, housing justice, and environmental and labor protections will help us to ensure our communities have what we need to live fulfilling lives. Miguel is the only candidate in this race who is not taking money from corporations or billionaires, because his allegiance lies solely with the people of the 40th District. As an educator and defender of the rights of our most vulnerable community members, Miguel is for the people — and that is why we are for him.
Delia Ramirez for Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District
Congresswoman Ramirez has long been an ally of our movement. During her time in office, she has been a fierce fighter against the Trump administration by introducing:
Born in the USA Bill to defend birthright citizenship
Block The Bombs Act to withhold offensive weapons from Israel
Tenant’s Right to Organize Bill to extend the legal right for tenant unions in an era of gentrification and rising rents
We are proud to endorse our congresista and look forward to her continuing to lead the fight for our working-class families in Congress!
Karina Villa for Illinois Comptroller
Karina Villa, current state senator for Illinois 25th District, is running for state comptroller on a platform of protecting Illinois' balanced budget and financial progress, ensuring transparency and accountability, fighting to make sure our budget prioritizes working families, and making the office accessible for all Illinoisans.
“What is a comptroller?” you might ask. Great question! This position is the chief financial officer of the government of Illinois. They are responsible for managing state funds, financial impact analyses, and overall fiscal oversight for state payments. During her time in Springfield, Karina has been a fierce defender of working-class Illinois families, and we have every confidence that she will continue to do so as comptroller.
Graciela Guzmán for Illinois’ 20th Senate District
Senator Guzmán is running for re-election to represent the 20th District. Already, during her brief time in office, she has shown intrepid, creative leadership that prioritizes the needs of our community and the cost-of-living crisis. She has been the primary sponsor for over 40 bills in the state senate to protect our working families, including policies to protect employees from retaliatory employers, dismantle food deserts, and ensure access to critical medications without prior approval.
She worked tirelessly on the front lines to fight the Trump administration’s attacks on our community. Alongside 33rd Ward Alderperson Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, Graciela worked tirelessly to help coordinate and support the Rapid Response Networks and School ICE Watch groups to defend our neighbors.
Jessica Vasquez for Cook County’s 8th District
Commissioner Vasquez was appointed in March 2025 and is running for her first full term of office. Like the rest of our endorsed slate, Commissioner Vasquez has been a leader in the rapid response efforts since ICE began terrorizing our communities, leading as the chair of the Northwest Side Rapid Response Network.
Legislatively, she successfully led the effort to ban kidnappings in court houses and other county-owned buildings, as well as requiring all county offices and agencies to notify the county commissioners of any interactions with immigration officials. With her policies and her presence, Commissioner Vasquez has been finding new and powerful ways to protect our community.
Take Action
At a time when our communities are under attack, empowering strong, passionate local leaders has never been more critical. These progressive champions are our first line of defense against the inhumane actions of the Trump administration.
Use your power as a member of our community to help fight back!
Join 33WF for a Thursday or Saturday canvass to support these candidates and speak with neighbors about the issues impacting us all.
Live closer to Logan Square? In that case, join UN35 to hit doors on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
Speak with candidates at a Meet & Greet, or at a Superbowl Watch Party Fundraiser, or at our other social events in the Events Calendar to learn more about the values and policy initiatives they’ll bring to their work.
And of course: vote for all these candidates on or before March 17th!