Illinois's 4th congressional district

The 4th congressional district of Illinois, as defined in 2023, includes part of Cook County. It has been represented by Democrat Chuy García since January 2019, who was elected under its previous configuration.

The previous version of the district, from 2013 to 2023, was featured by The Economist as one of the most strangely drawn and gerrymandered congressional districts in the country. It 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 Republican-dominated Illinois General Assembly responded by packing two majority Hispanic parts of Chicago into a single district.

The 2013–2023 version of the district 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 primarily Mexican-American. These two sections were connected only by a piece of Interstate 294 to the west; the highway was in the district while the surrounding areas were not. This version of the district was the smallest congressional district in area outside New York City and California.

History 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.Parson, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Michael J. Durbin. United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843–1883 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986) p. 9

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;Hastert v. State Bd. of Elections, 777 F.Supp. 634, 638 (N.D.Ill.1991). 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 biasedJames R. KING, v. State Bd. of Elections et al.. See ; 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.

Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd119/cd_based/ST17/CD119_IL04.pdf

Cook County (34) Bellwood (part, also 7th), Berkeley (part, also 7th), Berwyn, Berwyn Township, Bridgeview (part, also 6th), Brookfield, Burbank, Burr Ridge (part, also 6th), Cicero, Cicero Township, Chicago (part, also 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th; shared with DuPage County), Forest View, Franklin Park (part, also 3rd), Hinsdale (part, shared with DuPage County), La Grange (part, also 6th), La Grange Park (part, also 7th), Leyden Township (part, also 3rd), Lyons, Lyons Township (part, also 6th), Maywood (part, also 7th), McCook, Melrose Park, North Riverside (part, also 7th), Northlake, Oak Lawn (part, also 6th), Proviso Township (part, also 7th), River Grove (part, also 3rd), Riverside, Riverside Township, Stickney, Stickney Township (part, also 6th), Stone Park, Summit, Worth Township (part, also 1st and 6th)

DuPage County (6)

Clarendon Hills (part, also 6th), Downers Grove Township (part, also 6th), Elmhurst (part, also 6th), Hinsdale (part, shared with Cook County), Oak Brook (part, also 6th), York Township (part, also 6th)

Chicago neighborhoods within the district include:

Bridgeport (part) Brighton Park Chicago Lawn (part) Clearing (part) Garfield Ridge (part) New City (part) Pilsen (part) South Lawndale West Elsdon

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 71% - 28%2012 PresidentObama 72% - 28%2016 PresidentClinton 72% - 22% SenateDuckworth 69% - 25% Comptroller (Spec.)Mendoza 66% - 27%2018 GovernorPritzker 70% - 25% Attorney GeneralRaoul 69% - 28% Secretary of StateWhite 81% - 16% ComptrollerMendoza 76% - 21% TreasurerFrerichs 72% - 23%2020 PresidentBiden 72% - 26% SenateDurbin 69% - 22%2022 SenateDuckworth 70% - 28% GovernorPritzker 68% - 29% Attorney GeneralRaoul 68% - 30% Secretary of StateGiannoulias 69% - 29% ComptrollerMendoza 72% - 26% TreasurerFrerichs 68% - 30%2024 PresidentHarris 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.Illinois Congressional District 4 , Illinois Board of Elections

Prominent representatives Representative NotesJohn 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 WarDaniel W. Mills Served as a captain for the Union Army during the American Civil WarStephen 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 Congress Notes District location District created March 4, 1843 John Wentworth Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1842.Re-elected in 1844.Re-elected in 1846.Re-elected in 1848. Richard S. Molony Democratic March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1850. James Knox Whig March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1855 Elected in 1852.Re-elected in 1854. Opposition March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857 William Kellogg Republican March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1863 Elected in 1856.Re-elected in 1858.Re-elected in 1860. Charles M. Harris Democratic March 4, 1863 –March 3, 1865 Elected in 1862. Abner C. Harding Republican March 4, 1865 –March 3, 1869 Elected in 1864.Re-elected in 1866. John B. Hawley Republican March 4, 1869 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1868.Re-elected in 1870.Redistricted to the . Stephen A. Hurlbut Republican March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1877 Elected in 1872.Re-elected in 1874. William Lathrop Republican March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1879 Elected in 1876. John C. Sherwin Republican March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1883 Elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.George E. Adams Republican March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888. Walter C. Newberry Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1893 Elected in 1890. Julius Goldzier Democratic March 4, 1893 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1892. Charles W. Woodman Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1897 Elected in 1894. Daniel W. Mills Republican March 4, 1897 –March 3, 1899 Elected in 1896. Thomas Cusack Democratic March 4, 1899 –March 3, 1901 Elected in 1898. James McAndrews Democratic March 4, 1901 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1900.Redistricted to the . George P. Foster Democratic March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1905 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902. Charles S. Wharton Republican March 4, 1905 –March 3, 1907 Elected in 1904. James T. McDermott Democratic March 4, 1907 –July 21, 1914 Elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Resigned. Vacant July 21, 1914 –March 3, 1915 James T. McDermott Democratic March 4, 1915 –March 3, 1917 Re-elected in 1914 to fill his own seat.Retired. Charles Martin Democratic March 4, 1917 –October 28, 1917 Elected in 1916.Died. Vacant October 28, 1917 –April 2, 1918 John W. Rainey Democratic April 2, 1918 –May 4, 1923 Elected to finish Martin's term.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Died. Vacant May 4, 1923 –November 6, 1923 Thomas A. Doyle Democratic November 6, 1923 –March 3, 1931 Elected to finish Rainey's term.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928. Harry P. Beam Democratic March 4, 1931 –December 6, 1942 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 December 6, 1942 –January 3, 1943 Martin Gorski Democratic January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1949 Elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Redistricted to the . James V. Buckley Democratic January 3, 1949 –January 3, 1951 Elected in 1948. William E. McVey Republican January 3, 1951 –August 10, 1958 Elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Died. Vacant August 10, 1958 –January 3, 1959 Ed Derwinski Republican January 3, 1959 –January 3, 1983 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. George M. O'Brien Republican January 3, 1983 –July 17, 1986 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Died. Vacant July 17, 1986 –January 3, 1987 Jack Davis Republican January 3, 1987 –January 3, 1989 Elected in 1986. George E. Sangmeister Democratic January 3, 1989 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Redistricted to the . Luis Gutiérrez Democratic January 3, 1993 –January 3, 2019 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 2013–2023 Chuy García Democratic January 3, 2019 –present Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. Retiring at the end of term. 2023–present

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Illinois's 4th congressional district

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