Jessica "Jessie" Fuentes (born 1990/1991) is an American politician from Chicago. She is the alderperson for

Chicago City Council The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the Law and government of Chicago, government of the Chicago, City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 Wards of the United States, wards to serve four-year t ...

's 26th ward, having won the 2023 election to the office. The 26th ward includes parts of the Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, West Town, and Belmont Cragin neighborhoods.

Early life and career

Fuentes grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. She attended

Carl Schurz High School Carl Schurz High School is a Public school (government funded), public four-year high school located in the Irving Park, Chicago, Irving Park neighborhood on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The school is named after German ...

and later transferred to Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School. She earned a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in Justice Studies and Latino and Latin American Studies and a

Master of Education The Master of Education (MEd or M.Ed. or Ed.M.; Latin ''Magister Educationis'' or ''Educationis Magister'') is a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum an ...

degree in Community and Teachers Leadership from

Northeastern Illinois University Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is a public university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. NEIU serves approximately 5,000 students in the region and is both a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution and Asian American and Nat ...

. She worked as a program director at the youth center Café Teatro Batey Urbano and later as dean of students at her alma mater Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School and at Roberto Clemente Community Academy. Prior to her election, Fuentes was the director of policy and youth advocacy for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.

Alderperson campaign

Fuentes ran for alderperson of the 26th ward in the 2023 election, initially against incumbent

Roberto Maldonado Roberto Maldonado is an American politician who served as the alderman of the 26th Ward of the City of Chicago, Illinois from 2009 to 2023. Early life, education, and early career, Children Maldonado earned both his undergraduate and his mast ...

. After collecting signatures to appear on the ballot, Maldonado decided against running, making the election an open race. Maldonado later endorsed Fuentes. Fuentes won a three-way race in the February 2023 election with over 50% of the vote, negating the need for a runoff election. In the 2023 Chicago mayoral election runoff, Fuentes endorsed eventual winner

Brandon Johnson Brandon Johnson (born March 27, 1976) is an American politician and educator who is currently serving as the 57th mayor of Chicago since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Johnson previously served on the C ...

Electoral history

References

1990s births American LGBTQ city council members Chicago City Council members Hispanic and Latino American city council members Illinois Democrats LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people LGBTQ people from Illinois Living people Northeastern Illinois University alumni Politicians from Chicago Women city councillors in Illinois {{Illinois-politician-stub