Illinois –Today, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) announced an early endorsement for the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District.
The IFT Executive Board unanimously voted to endorse State Rep. Delia Ramirez for Congress. Rep. Ramirez is currently Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois General Assembly and serving her second term. During her tenure, Rep. Ramirez was a chief sponsor of the Chicago elected school board bill. She has been a champion for education, housing, and healthcare.
“Delia exemplifies everything that we need in Congress – a coalition builder rooted in her community and values. As a product of Chicago Public Schools, she understands the needs and challenges of our teachers, students, and staff,” said IFT President Dan Montgomery. “Since the start of her career, she has been a staunch ally for our members, leading on education issues. I have no doubt that she will continue to advocate for students and educators in Congress,” added Montgomery.
The endorsement reflects the results of the IFT’s robust candidate review process, which includes candidate surveys, regional discussions, and thorough consideration by the 40 elected members of the union’s Executive Board, which represents our diverse local unions statewide.
“Delia is an unapologetic fighter who understands the needs of the 3rd Congressional District and knows first-hand the intersectionality between education, housing, and healthcare,” said Jhoanna Maldonado, an IFT vice president and Chicago Teachers Union organizer. “As a teacher in the district, I worked side by side with Delia and I know she will continue to be a strong advocate for Sustainable Community Schools and represent our community holistically.”
The IFT represents 103,000 members across Illinois with nearly 5,000 members living in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District. The union looks forward to supporting Rep. Delia Ramirez on the ground and at the ballot box in the days leading up to the primary election on June 28.