This should be Luis Gutierrez’ time to shine in the spotlight. Two of his top issues, Puerto Rico and immigration, have been front and center all year in the national media. Democrats think they have a real chance at winning back control of the House, and the Chicago congressman’s 12 terms in office would put him in line for a chair if they do. He has a solidly Democratic district and the ability to make news whenever he wants, and at 63 years old has plenty of time to increase his political strength.
Thus his filing for re-election on Monday came as no surprise — but his sudden decision to retire does:
As Politico notes, Gutierrez changed his mind in a hurry:
Garcia’s political strength almost certainly has nothing to do with this. Democrats have a +33 edge in IL-04, and Republicans didn’t even bother to run a candidate against Gutierrez last November. In 2014, a strong Republican midterm, Gutierrez won 78/22. He managed to eke out a 77/14 win in the GOP tidal wave of 2010, too. This was as safe a seat for Gutierrez as possible; he could have hung on for another twenty years without even breaking a sweat.
AAN Staff
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