# Illinois's 4th congressional district

The 4th congressional district of Illinois includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Jesús "Chuy" García since January 2019.
The previous version of the district from 2013–2023 was featured by The Economist as one of the most strangely drawn and gerrymandered congressional districts in the country, inspired the "Ugly Gerry" gerrymandering typeface, and has been nicknamed "earmuffs" due to its shape. That version of the district was created after federal courts ordered the creation of a majority-Hispanic district in the Chicago area. The Illinois General Assembly responded by packing two majority Hispanic parts of Chicago into a single district.
The 2013–2023 version of the district formerly covered two strips running east–west across the city of Chicago, on the west side continuing into smaller portions of some suburban areas in Cook County, surrounding Illinois's 7th congressional district. The northern portion is largely Puerto Rican, while the southern portion is heavily Mexican-American. These two sections were only connected by a piece of Interstate 294 to the west; the highway is in the district while the surrounding areas are not. This version of the district was the smallest congressional district in area outside New York City and California.

## Composition

The Illinois 4th congressional district was originally formed in 1842. It included 17 counties, which were Cook, Lake, McHenry, Boone, De Kalb, Kane, Du Page, Will, Kendall, Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Livingston, Iroquois, McLean, Vermilion and Champaign Counties. Beyond this Ford and Kankakee Counties were part of Vermillion and Iroquois Counties respectively at this point and thus in the district's boundaries.
In the redistricting following the 1990 United States census, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Governor Jim Edgar both wanted a Latino district, as Latinos were the fastest growing demographic group in the state at the time. In June 1991, Congressman Dennis Hastert, a suburban Republican, filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the existing congressional map was unconstitutional; the present congressional district boundaries emerged as a result of that lawsuit. A three-judge panel of the federal district court adopted the map proposed by Hastert and other Republican members of the Illinois Congressional delegation. Subsequent lawsuits challenging the redistricting as racially biased did not succeed in redrawing the district boundaries. The district, as it was in 2009, was in some places less than 50 yards (metres) wide and parts covered no more than one city block.

### Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people

* Chicago – 2,665,039
* Cicero – 85,268
* Oak Lawn – 58,362
* Berwyn – 57,250
* Elmhurst – 45,786
* Burbank – 29,439
* Melrose Park – 24,796
* Maywood – 23,512
* Brookfield – 19,476
* Bellwood – 18,789
* Franklin Park – 18,467
* Hinsdale – 17,395
* Bridgeview – 17,027
* La Grange – 16,321
* La Grange Park – 13,475
* Northlake – 12,840
* Summit – 11,617
* Burr Ridge – 11,192
* Lyons – 10,817
* River Grove – 10,612

### 2,500 – 10,000 people

* Riverside – 9,298
* Clarendon Hills – 8,702
* Oak Brook – 8,163
* North Riverside – 7,426
* Stickney – 7,110
* Berkeley – 5,338
* Stone Park – 4,576
Due to the 2020 redistricting, this district will be primarily based around Chicago's Southwest Side and central Cook County, as well as a portion of eastern DuPage. The 4th district takes in the Chicago neighborhoods of Brighton Park, West Elsdon, and South Lawndale; most of New City, Pilsen, and Chicago Lawn; the part of Clearing east of S Austin Ave and W Austin Ave; eastern Garfield Ridge; and half of Bridgeport west of S Halsted St.
Outside the Chicago city limits, this district takes in the Cook County communities of Brookfield, Burbank, Berwyn, Cicero, Brookfield, Forest View, Lyons, Hinsdale (shared with DuPage County), Melrose Park, Northlake, McCook, Riverside, Stickney, Stone Park, and Summit; most of Berkeley; the portion of Franklin Park south of Franklin Ave; and part of Bellwood, Bridgeview, Burr Ridge, La Grange, La Grange Park, Maywood, North Riverside, Oak Lawn, and River Grove.
DuPage County is split between this district and the 6th district. They are partitioned by Illinois Highway 64, York St, Euclid Ave, Illinois Highway 38, Illinois Highway 83, West 22nd St, Kingston Dr, Regent Drive, 31st St, Kingey Highway, East Ogden Ave, Naperville Rd, Middaugh Rd, West Chicago Ave, North Prospect Ave, Walker Ave, 55th St, and 59th St. The 4th district takes in the municipalities of Hinsdale (shared with Cook County); and part of Clarendon Hills, Elmhurst, and Oak Brook.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 71% - 28% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 72% - 28% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 72% - 22% |
| 2016 | Senate | Duckworth 69% - 25% |
| 2016 | Comptroller (Spec.) | Mendoza 66% - 27% |
| 2018 | Governor | Pritzker 70% - 25% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Raoul 69% - 28% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | White 81% - 16% |
| 2018 | Comptroller | Mendoza 76% - 21% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | Frerichs 72% - 23% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 72% - 26% |
| 2020 | Senate | Durbin 69% - 22% |
| 2022 | Senate | Duckworth 70% - 28% |
| 2022 | Governor | Pritzker 68% - 29% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Raoul 68% - 30% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Giannoulias 69% - 29% |
| 2022 | Comptroller | Mendoza 72% - 26% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Frerichs 68% - 30% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 63% - 35% |

## History
### 2011 redistricting

The 4th district includes the Chicago community of Brighton Park, in addition to almost all of Hermosa, Lower West Side and Gage Park; parts of Albany Park, Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, West Town, Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin, Austin, McKinley Park, South Lawndale, New City, West Elsdon and Archer Heights; portions of riverfront Bridgeport; the portion of North Center southwest of Clybourn Avenue; and the northwestern tip of Lincoln Park. Since the 2011 redistricting, the district also includes portions of Berwyn, Brookfield, Cicero, Lyons, Melrose Park, Riverside, River Forest, and Elmwood Park.

### Prominent representatives

| Representative | Notes |
| John Wentworth | Elected the 21st Mayor of Chicago (1860 – 1861) |
| William Kellogg | Appointed Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of the Nebraska Territory (1865 – 1867) |
| John B. Hawley | Served as a captain for the Union Army during the American Civil War |
| Daniel W. Mills | Served as a captain for the Union Army during the American Civil War |
| Stephen A. Hurlbut | Served as a major general for the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865) Appointed Minister Resident to the United States of Colombia (1869 – 1872) Appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Peru (1881 – 1882) |
| Walter C. Newberry | Served as a brigadier general for the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865) |
| Abner C. Harding | Served as a brigadier general for the Union Army during the American Civil War (1862 – 1863) |
| George M. O'Brien | Served as a lieutenant colonel for the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II (1941 – 1945) |

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Notes | District location |
| District created March 4, 1843 ||||||
| John Wentworth (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1851 | 28th 29th 30th 31st | Elected in 1842. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848. [data missing] |
| Richard S. Molony (Belvidere) | Democratic | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | Elected in 1850. [data missing] |
| James Knox (Knoxville) | Whig | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. [data missing] |
| James Knox (Knoxville) | Opposition | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | 34th | Elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. [data missing] |
| William Kellogg (Canton) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1863 | 35th 36th 37th | Elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860. [data missing] |
| Charles M. Harris (Oquawka) | Democratic | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th | Elected in 1862. [data missing] |
| Abner C. Harding (Monmouth) | Republican | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1869 | 39th 40th | Elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. [data missing] |
| John B. Hawley (Rock Island) | Republican | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873 | 41st 42nd | Elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 6th district. |
| Stephen A. Hurlbut (Belvidere) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 | 43rd 44th | Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. [data missing] |
| William Lathrop (Rockford) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Elected in 1876. [data missing] |
| John C. Sherwin (Aurora) | Republican | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883 | 46th 47th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. [data missing] |
| George E. Adams (Chicago) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1891 | 48th 49th 50th 51st | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. [data missing] |
| Walter C. Newberry (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. [data missing] |
| Julius Goldzier (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Elected in 1892. [data missing] |
| Charles W. Woodman (Chicago) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1894. [data missing] |
| Daniel W. Mills (Chicago) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1896. [data missing] |
| Thomas Cusack (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | Elected in 1898. [data missing] |
| James McAndrews (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 | 57th | Elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 5th district. |
| George P. Foster (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | 58th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1902. [data missing] |
| Charles S. Wharton (Chicago) | Republican | March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 | 59th | Elected in 1904. [data missing] |
| James T. McDermott (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – July 21, 1914 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 21, 1914 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | |
| James T. McDermott (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917 | 64th | Re-elected in 1914 to fill his own seat. Retired. |
| Charles Martin (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1917 – October 28, 1917 | 65th | Elected in 1916. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 28, 1917 – April 2, 1918 | 65th | |
| John W. Rainey (Chicago) | Democratic | April 2, 1918 – May 4, 1923 | 65th 66th 67th 68th | Elected to finish Martin's term. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 4, 1923 – November 6, 1923 | 68th | |
| Thomas A. Doyle (Chicago) | Democratic | November 6, 1923 – March 3, 1931 | 68th 69th 70th 71st | Elected to finish Rainey's term. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. [data missing] |
| Harry P. Beam (Chicago) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – December 6, 1942 | 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned after being elected judge of the Municipal Court of Chicago. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 6, 1942 – January 3, 1943 | 77th | |
| Martin Gorski (Chicago) | Democratic | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1949 | 78th 79th 80th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Redistricted to the 5th district. |
| James V. Buckley (Lansing) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 | 81st | Elected in 1948. [data missing] |
| William E. McVey (Harvey) | Republican | January 3, 1951 – August 10, 1958 | 82nd 83rd 84th 85th | Elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 10, 1958 – January 3, 1959 | 85th | |
| Ed Derwinski (Flossmoor) | Republican | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1983 | 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. [data missing] |
| George M. O'Brien (Joliet) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – July 17, 1986 | 98th 99th | Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 17, 1986 – January 3, 1987 | 99th | |
| Jack Davis (New Lenox) | Republican | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989 | 100th | Elected in 1986. [data missing] |
| George E. Sangmeister (Mokena) | Democratic | January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 | 101st 102nd | Elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 11th district. |
| Luis Gutiérrez (Chicago) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2019 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired. | |
| Luis Gutiérrez (Chicago) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2019 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired. | 2003–2013 |
| Luis Gutiérrez (Chicago) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2019 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| Jesús "Chuy" García (Chicago) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – present | 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Jesús "Chuy" García (Chicago) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – present | 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Election results
### 2012

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luis Gutiérrez (incumbent) | 133,226 | 83.0 |
| | Republican | Héctor Concepción | 27,279 | 17.0 |
| | Independent | Ymelda Viramontes | 4 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 160,509 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luis Gutiérrez (incumbent) | 79,666 | 78.1 |
| | Republican | Hector Concepción | 22,278 | 21.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,944 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luis Gutiérrez (incumbent) | 171,297 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171,297 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesús "Chuy" García | 143,895 | 86.6 |
| | Republican | Mark Lorch | 22,294 | 13.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 166,189 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jesús "Chuy" García (incumbent) | 187,219 | 84.05 | −2.54% |
| | Republican | Jesus E. Solorio Jr. | 35,518 | 15.95 | +2.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 222,737 | 100.0 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesús "Chuy" García (incumbent) | 91,036 | 68.42 |
| | Republican | James Falakos | 37,352 | 28.07 |
| | Working Class | Edward Hershey | 4,605 | 3.46 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 54 | 0.041 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133,047 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024

Illinois's 4th congressional district, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jesús "Chuy" García (incumbent) | 139,343 | 67.51 | −0.91% |
| | Republican | Lupe Castillo | 56,323 | 27.29 | −0.78% |
| | Working Class | Edward Hershey | 10,704 | 5.19 | +1.73% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 206,396 | 100.0 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |