U.S. House, Illinois 4th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Illinois's 4th Congressional District?
Chris Getty has the strongest record in Illinois's 4th Congressional District. Chris Getty scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Chris Getty's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Lupe Castillo (4 of 15 criteria), Patty Garcia (7 of 15 criteria) and Ed Hershey (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Lupe Castillo
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Patty Garcia
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Strongest record
Chris Getty
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Working Class Party
Ed Hershey
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Lupe Castillo
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Patty Garcia
- Unresolved2026-07-03
On July 3, 2026, independent candidate Mayra Macias asked House Ethics and the Office of Congressional Conduct to investigate claims that Patty Garcia and other Rep. Garcia staff campaigned on official time.
Where it stands: Unresolved. Both bodies declined to comment to NOTUS (July 9, 2026); no action or finding has been reported as of Oct. 9, 2026.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, July 12, 2026, NOTUS, July 9, 2026
- On the record2025-11-03
Filed petitions for the 4th District Democratic primary at the close of filing on Nov. 3, 2025, as her boss, Rep. Jesus Garcia, withdrew, leaving her the only Democrat on the ballot.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, Nov. 5, 2025, NBC News, Nov. 13, 2025
Chris Getty
- Unresolved2025-10-31
Was among targets of a multiyear federal corruption investigation of suburban officials that included raids on his offices; he was not charged and says he was cleared.
Where it stands: No charges filed as of October 2026; no public statement closing the investigation was found.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 31, 2025, Block Club Chicago, March 17, 2026, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark (Better Government Association), March 10, 2021
- On the record2026-04-29
Called Rep. Jesus Garcia's handoff of the 4th District seat to his chief of staff undemocratic and ran as an independent after missing the Democratic primary.
Source: Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2026
- On the record2025-10-15
His state campaign committee reported a $245,000 loan to him in October 2025, which his lawyer said paid divorce-related tax debts; an elections board spokesman called it unusual.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 31, 2025, Block Club Chicago, March 17, 2026
Ed Hershey
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 18, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10079746, FEC administrative fines search
Chris Getty. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. No public record found.
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Lupe Castillo. Took part in the Sept. 29, 2026 live televised debate on Fox Chicago with all four general election candidates.
Patty Garcia. Took part in the Sept. 29, 2026 live televised debate on Fox Chicago with all four general election candidates.
Chris Getty. Took part in an April 29, 2026 candidate forum at the University of Illinois Chicago. Also took part in the Sept. 29, 2026 Fox Chicago televised debate.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2026, Cook County Chronicle, May 29, 2026, FOX 32 Chicago live blog, Sept. 29, 2026
Ed Hershey. Took part in an April 29, 2026 candidate forum at the University of Illinois Chicago. Also took part in the Sept. 29, 2026 Fox Chicago televised debate.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2026, FOX 32 Chicago live blog, Sept. 29, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. Mayor of Lyons with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found. A federal corruption investigation that reached him ended without charges.
Sources: Village of Lyons, Elected Officials, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 31, 2025
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. Took the oath as mayor of Lyons and earlier as Lyons Township supervisor. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Village of Lyons, Elected Officials, Campaign site, About
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Lupe Castillo. Has worked as a chef and in the pharmacy industry and is a Republican ward committeeperson; has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Lupe Castillo, Cook County Chronicle, May 29, 2026
Patty Garcia. Chief of staff and district director for U.S. Rep. Jesus Garcia for more than seven years; holds a Ph.D. in education policy.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Patty Garcia, Campaign site, Meet Patty
Chris Getty. Mayor of the Village of Lyons and former Lyons Township supervisor; president of a family insurance agency.
Sources: Village of Lyons, Elected Officials, Campaign site, About
Ed Hershey. Teacher at Lindblom High School for 18 years (as of 2024) and a union representative for about a decade; has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Ed Hershey
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. Publishes a ten-part agenda naming specific federal measures, such as the PRO Act, an expanded Child Tax Credit and a pathway to citizenship.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Chris Getty. Publishes platform themes on cost of living, immigration and public safety, and government accountability in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Lupe Castillo. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024 and took part in a Sept. 29, 2026 televised debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Lupe Castillo, FOX 32 Chicago live blog, Sept. 29, 2026
Patty Garcia. Publishes plain-language issue pages and took part in a Sept. 29, 2026 televised debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, Ballotpedia, Patty Garcia, FOX 32 Chicago live blog, Sept. 29, 2026
Chris Getty. Publishes platform pages and took part in a 2026 candidate forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Chris Getty
Ed Hershey. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2022 and 2024 and took part in a 2026 candidate forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ed Hershey, Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Lupe Castillo. Born in San Antonio, Texas; her FEC statement of candidacy lists a Chicago 60623 address (Little Village). No itemized contributions reported.
Sources: FEC Form 2, June 9, 2026, Ballotpedia, Lupe Castillo
Patty Garcia. Grew up in Little Village and Cicero; her FEC statement of candidacy lists a Chicago 60632 address. FEC by-state totals show about 87 percent of itemized individual contributions from Illinois ($131,850 of $152,410).
Sources: Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, Nov. 18, 2025, FEC Form 2, Nov. 4, 2025, FEC contribution totals by state
Chris Getty. Lifelong resident of Lyons, where he grew up. FEC by-state totals show about 98 percent of itemized individual contributions from Illinois ($171,660 of $176,010).
Sources: Village of Lyons, Elected Officials, FEC contribution totals by state
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Chris Getty. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. No public record found.
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. No public record found.
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. No public record found.
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. No public record found.
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Lupe Castillo. No public record found.
Patty Garcia. No public record found.
Chris Getty. No public record found.
Ed Hershey. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Illinois's 4th Congressional District?
Chris Getty has the strongest record in Illinois's 4th Congressional District. Chris Getty scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Chris Getty's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Lupe Castillo (4 of 15 criteria), Patty Garcia (7 of 15 criteria) and Ed Hershey (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Illinois's 4th Congressional District in 2026?
Lupe Castillo (Republican), Patty Garcia (Democratic), Chris Getty (Independent), Ed Hershey (Working Class Party). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Lupe Castillo a good candidate for Congress?
Lupe Castillo has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Patty Garcia a good candidate for Congress?
Patty Garcia has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Chris Getty a good candidate for Congress?
Chris Getty scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Ed Hershey a good candidate for Congress?
Ed Hershey has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Illinois race scored, and the Illinois 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.