Chicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus
Democratic Socialist Caucus | |
|---|---|
| Chair | Carlos Ramirez-Rosa |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Ideology | Democratic socialism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Seats in Chicago City Council | 6 / 50 |
The Democratic Socialist Caucus of the Chicago City Council (DSC) is a bloc of aldermen in the Chicago City Council. The block was unofficially organized as the Socialist Caucus in 2019, and later organized as a formal caucus with its current name in 2021.[1][2][3][4][5] It currently has six members, out of the 50 aldermen that comprise the Council.[6] Members of the caucus identify as democratic socialists.[2][3][5][7] All current members of the caucus are also members of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America (Chicago DSA).[8][9][10]
History
The caucus was initially organized as the Socialist Caucus following the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election by six aldermen, all of whom were members of the Chicago chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. All six members also joined the larger Progressive Reform Caucus.[3] The two caucuses pursue similar policy goals, but the Socialist Caucus' stated goal is to push a wider and more aggressive range of left-wing policies. When asked about the distinction between the two caucuses in a July 2019 interview, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa provided the example of a municipal takeover of the electric utility company ComEd as one distinctive policy that the Socialist Caucus would pursue.[1] The caucus also supported a Just Cause for Eviction ordinance as one of its core priorities.[11]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, members of the caucus called for a wide-ranging recovery package including an paid emergency leave, emergency housing, an end to ICE check-ins, and weekly payments to workers and families.[12] During the George Floyd protests, the caucus called for cutting funding to the Chicago Police Department and increasing funding for programs such as substance-abuse treatment, mental health care and after-school programs.[13]
On May 1, 2021, five members of the group formally organized as the Democratic Socialist Caucus, with Ramirez-Rosa serving as the chair.[4][5][14]
Membership
The following table lists aldermen affiliated with the caucus.
| Member | Party[a] | Ward | Main Community areas | First elected | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel La Spata | Democratic[15] | 1 | West Town, Logan Square | 2019 | 2019 | |
| Jeanette Taylor | Democratic[16] | 20 | New City, Woodlawn, Englewood | 2019 | 2019 | |
| Byron Sigcho-Lopez | Democratic | 25 | Lower West Side, Near West Side | 2019 | 2019 | |
| Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez | Democratic | 33 | Irving Park, Avondale, Albany Park | 2019 | 2019 | |
| Carlos Ramirez-Rosa | Democratic[17] | 35 | Logan Square, Avondale, Hermosa | 2015 | 2019 | 2025 |
| Anthony Quezada | Democratic | 35 | Logan Square, Avondale, Hermosa | 2025[b] | 2025 | |
| Andre Vasquez | Democratic | 40 | Lincoln Square, West Ridge, Edgewater | 2019 | 2019 | 2021 |
| Angela Clay | Democratic | 46 | Uptown, Lake View | 2023 | 2023 |
Andre Vasquez was part of the unofficial caucus in 2019, but was not part of the official caucus membership in 2021.[3][4][14] In 2020, Vasquez voted for Mayor Lori Lightfoot's budget,[18] for which he was censured by Chicago DSA, who claimed Vasquez "sided with an austerity regime and the Democratic Party establishment over the interests of Chicago's working class."[18][19] Vasquez shifted away from DSA and now co-chairs the Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus.
In April 2025, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa left the Chicago City Council to be the General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District.[20][21] Anthony Quezada was appointed to their seat.
See also
- Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus
- Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
- New York State Socialists in Office
- List of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United States
Notes
References
- ^ a b Blumberg, Nick (2019-07-03). "City Council Caucus Chairs on Chicago's Future". WTTW News. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ a b Bloom, Will (2019-04-03). "A Socialist Wave in Chicago". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ a b c d Sato, Mia (2019-07-02). "What The Gov: What Does It Mean To Have Six Democratic Socialists on the Chicago City Council?". Better Government Association. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ a b c Kapos, Shia (2021-05-03). "BUSTOS' EXIT AND THE REMAP — DUCKWORTH'S DUCKS IN A ROW — SCHOOL BOARD HEAD-TURNER". POLITICO. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ a b c "Democratic Socialists ratify 5-member City Council caucus to make policy work 'that much more effective'". The Daily Line. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ Evans, Joe Ward, Alex V. Hernandez, Maxwell (2023-03-06). "Chicago's Progressive Alderpeople Retain Seats, Look To Expand Influence On City Council — And Even Mayor's Race". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "New City Council includes an apparent record number of women to be sworn in, overall progressive shift". The Daily Line. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ^ "Chicago City Council Election: Democratic Socialists gain seats on Chicago City Council". ABC 7 Chicago. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ Schaal, Bryan (December 4, 2022). "Everything Revolves Around Housing Affordability". Jacobin. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
- ^ Cherone, Heather (April 7, 2025). "Anthony Quezada Confirmed as 35th Ward Alderperson by Chicago City Council". WTTW News. Archived from the original on 2026-02-19.
- ^ Schmidt, Corey (July 26, 2021). "The Democratic Socialist Caucus Gets to Work". South Side Weekly.
- ^ Rodriguez, Rossana; Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos; Sigcho Lopez, Byron; La Spata, Daniel; Taylor, Jeanette (2020-03-16). "If we want everybody to stay home during a coronavirus crisis, we need deep change to make that possible". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ La Spata, Daniel; Taylor, Jeannette; Sigcho Lopez, Byron; Rodriguez Sanchez, Rossana; Ramirez Rosa, Carlos; Vasquez, Andre (2020-06-08). "Cutting funding for police could lead to a better and safer Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ a b Chicago's Democratic Socialist Caucus (2021-05-01). "Today, May 1, 2021, we're announcing the formal creation of the Democratic Socialist Caucus of the Chicago City Council". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ LaSpata, Daniel (December 10, 2018). "2019 IVI-IPO Chicago Aldermanic Questionnaire" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ Taylor, Jeanette (December 10, 2018). "2019 IVI-IPO Chicago Aldermanic Questionnaire" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ Sandvoss, Steven S., ed. (September 18, 2019). "State of Illinois Central Committees" (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. pp. 75–78. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Laurence, Justin (November 25, 2020). "Democratic Socialists Move To Kick Out Alderman Who Voted For Lightfoot's Budget — But 'In Order To Win, You Have To Negotiate,' He Says". Block Club Chicago. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ^ Chicago City DSA (November 24, 2020). "Here's our official statement censuring DSA Member @Andrefor40th". Twitter. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ^ "Mayor Brandon Johnson Picks Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa to Lead Chicago Parks". WTTW News. February 28, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ^ "Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as General Superintendent & CEO of the Chicago Park District". City of Chicago. February 28, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.