Representative Aarón Ortíz

Aarón M. Ortíz is a Democratic State Representative representing the 1st District of Illinois in the Illinois House of Representatives, serving since January 2019.

Aarón Ortíz is a lifelong resident of the Gage Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. He comes from a working-class background and was the first in his family to attend college. Throughout his career, he has been deeply committed to community development and education in his district.

Before entering electoral politics, Ortíz worked as an educator and college counselor at Back of the Yards High School, a Chicago Public School. He is a proud union member of the Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73. He has also served on the Local School Council for Back of the Yards College Prep High School and worked as a volunteer high school soccer coach.

In 2017, with support from U.S. Representative Chuy Garcia, the Chicago Teachers Union, and United Working Families, Ortíz launched his campaign for State Representative. He conducted an extensive listening tour throughout his district. In 2018, he defeated long-time incumbent State Representative Dan Burke by over 400 votes. When he was sworn in as State Representative in 2019 at the age of 27, he became the youngest State Representative in Illinois.

Education

Ortíz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Political Experience

Ortíz currently serves as a full-time legislator in the Illinois House of Representatives. He holds the position of Democratic Assistant Majority Leader. His legislative priorities include restoring vocational and technical education to high schools, supporting the Illinois DREAM Act to ensure college access for young people from immigrant families, advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, promoting equal pay for women, ensuring justice for survivors of violence, and expanding access to high-quality health care.