Jaime Andrade Jr. for Illinois 40th House Democratic primary

The 40th District, which includes lively Chicago neighborhoods like Irving Park and Avondale, has been represented by Democrat Jaime Andrade Jr., 53, since 2013. He has had very few serious challengers over the years but he has one this time in Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, an organizer who boasts endorsements from such progressive names as U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez and Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sánchez, as well as from the Chicago Teachers Union.

Alvelo-Rivera wants to increase the state’s minimum wage to $30 in relatively short order and advocates for holding “Illinois State Police to account for assisting ICE at Broadview.” We were glad our state police were there to try to ensure safety in the face of the unacceptable actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol.

We’ve endorsed Andrade, who is deeply entrenched in this district and is also an IATSE (union) stagehand, several times before, noting his hard work on issues like affordable housing, protecting employees from AI-related job losses and finding ways to curb property tax increases, especially for seniors. He is plenty progressive enough for the voters in this district, but far more likely to support practical, commonsense future solutions for the state’s many problems.

Jaime Andrade Jr. is endorsed.

Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois primary election here. 

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