>> Another turn in the race to replace longtime congressman has Seuss to Garcia after his last-minute retirement announcement cleared a path for his chief of staff to secure the Democratic nomination unopposed this week, the state Board of Elections determined that independent candidates, Byron Sigcho Lopez and Myra ACS failed to collect enough valid petition signatures to make the November ballot leaving.

For now Democrat Patty Garcia, Republican looping Castillo and independent Chris Getty.

As the remaining candidates joining us to discuss the race, our Myra messiest, former executive director of the Latino Victory Fund and 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez who represents communities including Pilsen and Little Village.

Thank you for joining us.

We appreciate it.

Thank you for having So you both submitted the maximum number of signatures allowed a little over 17,000 but the state elections board ruled unanimously both fell short by more than 1000 valid signatures.

Meyer Muncy is the second start with you.

What was your reaction to that decision?

You know, yesterday's decision was such a loss to democracy into the over 30,000 voters who were supporting the aldermen or myself.

>> So I felt disappointment but also frustration because there's so many people who want to see options in November.

And they're they're losing out on utterance until up is how did you feel about that decision?

>> Well, not only a tiny 5 as any and father is a little facial.

Democracy died yesterday 4th congressional district.

There was a there were 30,000 plus voters school to serve to democracy, not control a position.

There is a big difference.

And when we see our families being CIA's like animals, that squats coming in and killing parents, I think that they took away toward right?

2 Tucson representatives or some determination was taking away and it takes away the spirit of democracy.

I mean, people we registered, hundreds of people to vote young people and our community deserves better than what terrible way for Congressman Garcia.

About a year had to leave, especially want to continue to see the lies that these was not premeditated, that these was every single excuse that we hear.

I want to say that we don't the support of the people when between the Democrats and Republicans to collect the Boerne over 1000 petitions we collect on a 30,000 that tells you a lot about the issue of democracy that we have in the state of Illinois today.

And your fellow independent candidate, Chris, get these petitions were in challenge to Mira why do you think your son, the alderman's were?

Well, it's very clear that Patty doesn't think she can win this election about box.

>> And instead, rather spend resources litigating in courtrooms.

I it's not a coincidence that 2 Latino candidates in the most Latino district in the state of Illinois were kicked off.

think it's very obvious why the alderman and myself were kicked off.

Even you both said you're exploring legal options other Sigcho Lopez.

Do you know yet on what grounds you might fall file suit?

>> Well, it is clear access to the ballot Illinois where we have a majority Democratic, just leadership in the Senate and House governor's office.

It is clear that we do not have a democratic process.

That is fair, equitable.

And and transparent right.

And I think that this is a moment when we need people that we can trust that we know one fighting for working people we can fight for working people and say that we we have to fight with the market when we're doing these tactics, right?

I do think is the moment where we need changes.

We're going to find the federal level and also challenge just a loss to make sure that every person I mean, these is and these are right to self-govern.

It was taken away from Latino representing the team Aniston or presented And are simply to benefit status quo and broken system that needs to change.

I would make sure to do so.

Yeah, I want to come back to that.

That question of, you know, changing state law potentially.

>> But I want to get to a statement from Petty Garcia's campaign provided to Wt Tw News.

She said that many of your in the alderman's petition signatures were, quote, fraudulent and not valid.

It continues.

Petition review is a normal part of the Democratic process and the Board of Elections made the right decision based on the law.

Myra, see us.

Your reaction to Well, I think it is very convenient to abide by by the law when >> it benefits you.

Speaking of the law, it's also against the law to use congressional staffers during work hours to try to kick off candidates from the ballot.

And so I actually filed an ethics complaint with the House of Representatives Office of Ethics, because I think that if we're going to talk about rules and laws and we should uphold them equally, not just when it behooves a candidate.

>> Which we should mention the congressman and his staff have denied those claims.

But yes, certainly there were, you know, folks tied to that office involved in the challenge effort, would you consider running as a write-in candidate?

>> I think at this moment I ready to explore various options.

What is fundamental to me is that.

We are centering working people because there's so many people that I met across this campaign who want change, who are hungry.

4.

And Ted Kerr up politicians.

They want people who actually use government as a lever for change.

And so I'm talking to folks to see what is the best way to continue doing that work because with or without a title, my my my goal and my commitment to my community was to serve.

So we'll continue considering options and Q, including legal options.

Alderman have even thought to potentially a write-in bid yet.

>> Were we were still talking about the legal options and also the next steps.

But I'll tell you, as a as an immigrant father coursing Hodge so having keel.

But that's squats.

I don't feel that state is doing enough to protect communities.

I think community to serve it serves better.

I would say the party or see is a fraud.

And I think that fraud.

We'll never be an option to what we've seen.

A country to fascism, Trump, all 3 I don't think that anybody fuel saving state.

I don't think we're doing enough.

And these certainly is adding insult to injury to residents, to people our community who of the right any other community.

There were 5 open seats in this election.

We were the only one that did not have the Democratic election raked March right November.

And I want to get to the question of the signature barriers.

Independence need nearly 11,000 valid signatures, a Democratic nominee such as petty Garcia.

>> 697.

You've called on state legislators to consider changing that law.

So independents don't face such a high barrier as some supporters of the status quo say, you know, major party candidates, maybe it's not a lot to get on the ballot, but they have to demonstrate support through a primary election.

What's your reaction to that argument?

I would also add that be on the inordinate amount of signatures that independent candidates have to get.

There is a cap on how many signatures were able to submit because when we decided to run one, I decided to run.

I was told this was impossible.

But we got the maximum allowed.

>> And if we have been able to get 20,000 we would have submitted the 20,000.

But you have a cap of 17,304 which doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room.

>> Yeah.

So even with you know, the question of, you know, gathering all that all that support their right.

There's a limit that's that's placed correct.

You know what I want to ask?

You know, obviously, this is, you know, not a fight either of you is giving up on yet.

You know, whether it's a write-in bid, whether it's a legal challenge, but hypothetically, should you not end up on the ballot are running as a write-in.

What would you encourage 4th district voters to do come November?

Alderman.

>> We'll encourage them to make sure that they see that there money coming into race.

I think important that we condemn and reject a PAC money that we can then super PAC money also that voters have to see what kind of it's and think what we see they continue gaslighting line.

I mean, it goes you that these was an election that needed to be done by the voters on Friday.

Midday days before Congress member theres he was only person who knew about What does it about someone who hides information from the public?

We need to scrutinize these candidates know what they It.

Garcia also told when I was collecting petitions that she was going to allowed in an election in November.

She didn't do it.

So that what this saying about say one thing but do another nuke of the money.

Look at the actions.

We will continue.

Organizing.

We want to make sure that the the residents talk about the issues of wars of shoes of working people.

We need to stop the genocide.

We need to stop the madness in our country and it's as organized.

Myron see us about 30 seconds left.

What might your message to voters be?

You know, things don't shake out.

People need to remember that they have the power.

>> This goes beyond a political candidate campaign or party.

They have the power November 3rd and they need to exercise their right to vote.

Whether they want to write in a candidate or not.

They need to use your vote because this is why we're in this situation.

>> All right.

Well, we will