An Organizer, Not a Politician.
From Ecuador to Tennessee to Pilsen. Byron Sigcho-Lopez came to this country alone at 17 and has spent his life fighting alongside the working class as a teacher, researcher, organizer, and unapologetic democratic socialist.
"Justice is not a destination. It is the road that is traveled." This is the road that made Byron.
Early Life
Byron first came to the United States alone as a teenager, settling in Tennessee and then moving to the Chicago area and Pilsen over 10 years ago. He was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador and came to the US following political instability in the country, and a tragic car accident that left his mother in a coma.
Emergency services were nearly non-existent during this period, and his family's lives were saved by passing motorists who stopped, rescued his family from the wreckage, and drove them to the hospital. When his mother awoke from the coma, she insisted her eldest leave the country for his last year of high school.
When Byron arrived in Tennessee at the age of 17, he knew no one in the country and did not speak English. He was taken in by a generous family who gave him a home and helped him pursue an education.
Byron with his family in Quito, Ecuador 
Receiving the President's Award at Cumberland University Soccer, Scholarship & the President's Award
Byron first visited Chicago with his Tennessee family who had loved ones in the Chicago area. During this first trip, they brought Byron to Pilsen to have dinner at the Nuevo Leon restaurant.
After graduating high school in Tennessee, Byron was able to attend college on a soccer scholarship after receiving an honorable mention for the All-State Tennessee Soccer Team in high school. Byron graduated from Cumberland University with his Bachelors in Mathematics and Business Administration.
He was also awarded the prestigious President's Award for his exceptional academic performance, and many contributions and successes in the school community during his time there. After graduation, Byron returned to Chicago and eventually settled in Pilsen to start his life.
Fighting for investment in our neighborhood schools Fighting School Closures
After Rahm Emanuel announced that he would be closing a hundred thirty Chicago Public Schools, Byron became involved in the Pilsen Alliance where he organized with the community to push to keep the schools open.
First Run for Alderman
In 2015, Byron was encouraged by community leaders Nellie Cotton and Kit Duffy to run for Alderman against the machine - now disgraced former Alderman Danny Solis. Byron came in second in the 5-way race.
Leading the Pilsen Alliance
Byron eventually served as the Director of Pilsen Alliance where he became a leader and an activist in the fight against gentrification, displacement, and corruption.
Joining the Movement
He joined forces with organizers from the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America while partnering on the coalition to Lift the Ban on Rent Control across the state of Illinois, and became a member then and there.
He Walks a Road Others Paved.
- Fred Hampton Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party. Built the original Rainbow Coalition.
- Mama Teal Matriarch of Chicago movement organizing whose example Byron carries.
- Karen Lewis Chicago Teachers Union president who taught a generation how to fight and win.
- Boogie Gonzalez Pilsen peacemaker and pioneer, assassinated at 23. His mural reads: I heard my people calling.
"Boogie lives. I heard my people calling."
A Grassroots Movement, Not a Machine Candidacy
In 2019, Byron ran a grassroots campaign for Alderman of the 25th Ward. He committed to refuse political contributions from developers and big corporations - a commitment he has upheld to this day and beyond. Since taking office, any resident now can personally meet with Byron at his weekly Ward Night, and all residents can receive compassion, support, and city services from the devoted public servants who staff the 25th Ward office.
In 2023, big money and the political establishment lined up against Byron. A year earlier he had taken disgraced former Alderman Danny Solis all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court over campaign cash spent on criminal defense lawyers. The court left the fix to the legislature, so that is where the fight went. The voters of the 25th Ward sent him back to City Hall.
In 2026, Byron ran for Congress as an independent, and the machine's lawyers worked to keep his name off the ballot. He came home to run for a third term, back to stand with the 25th Ward that raised him up.
As an elected official, he used the power of his office to put the people's power into the institutions that needed it - under his leadership, change is happening.
800+ Affordable Units
We fended off developers to create and preserve over 800 units of affordable housing in the ward. As Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate, Byron made Chicago the largest city to pass a $135 million investment through the Green Social Housing Initiative, building sustainable homes to meet the housing crisis.
Open Door, Every Week
Every community member has the opportunity to speak directly with their elected official every Tuesday at the Ward Office: the accountability is a commitment.
Community Services
A reopened mental health clinic and an affordable dental clinic. Support for Community Violence Intervention teams, reducing crime by 50% since 2024. The Pilsen Food Pantry has grown to serve more neighbors than ever.
Standing Against the Powerful
Property taxpayers know their alderman has voted against every single proposed property tax increase and fought for a statewide millionaire surcharge and wealth taxes on the billionaires. When Trump sent ICE into our communities, Byron preserved Sanctuary City policies and stood up to ICE in our neighborhoods, with the full weight of his office and his community behind him.
Powerful interests will never stop Byron from standing with you and our community.
Rooted in Pilsen
Byron and his wife Loreen live in Pilsen with their triplets, who attend Chicago Public Schools, their dog, Buster, and their two cats.
The People Vouch
Boogie lives within Byron. We need him to take us to a grander scale.
A real leader shows up when you need them the most.
A guy helping you that does not know you at all says something about the person. Trust the heart.
He will look out for you. He will not sell you out. His door is always open.
He does not just talk the talk. He embodies the struggle of his community and the promise of what it can be.
People before party. It will always be like that, and he is the man.
Justice is not a destination. It is the road that is traveled. Byron Sigcho-Lopez
This is the road through the ward. Walk it with us: Sundays on the doors, Tuesdays at Ward Night, February 23 at the polls.
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