The Chicago Democratic Socialists of America has endorsed Anthony Quezada in the 8th District Cook County Commissioners race. Quezada currently serves as the Democratic Committeeman for Chicago’s 35th Ward and is the Neighborhood Services Director in the office of 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, another DSA elected. Quezada will be challenging incumbent Luis Arroyo Jr. in the Democratic primary.
Anthony is the son of immigrant parents, born and raised in Logan Square at a time when the neighborhood was still a primarily immigrant and working-class community. As a CPS student, the 2012 CTU strike was especially formative for Anthony, who supported the strike on the picket line and was struck by his teachers using their collective power for the common good. As a community and political organizer Anthony has worked to build coalitions with progressives, socialists, community leaders, and workers since 2016.
Anthony is a founding organizer of United Neighbors of the 35th Ward and previously served on Chicago DSA’s Executive Committee from 2018-2021, leading efforts in support of establishing a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC), winning rent control and affordable housing, electing socialist candidates like Bernie Sanders and Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, organizing COVID-19 mutual aid efforts, and more.
“Quezada is a proven leader firmly rooted in the communities he organizes in,” says Diego Morales, Chicago DSA co-chair. “We are happy to endorse his candidacy to fight for working class people as an organizer in office, to push the boundaries of what is believed to be possible from government, and lead on the issues that affect us all. While Anthony’s name will be on the ballot, his campaign, as Bernie Sanders would say, is not about him but us.”
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Chicago DSA is the Chicago local of the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest American socialist organization in nearly a century, with 95,000 members nationwide and more than 3,000 members in Chicago. As an entirely volunteer-run, member-driven organization, the Chicago chapter organizes campaigns to empower the working class, build rank-and-file labor, and provide political education.
CONTACT:
Lauren LaBorde
Chicago DSA Communications Coordinator
504-289-1626
Communications@chicagodsa.org
