Representative Aaron Ortiz Contact information

Aaron Ortiz is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 1st district. He was born on June 18, 1991, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. He is a son of immigrants from Nuevo Ideal, Durango, Mexico.

Education: Ortiz is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in urban planning.

Career: Before his political career, Ortiz was a teacher and college counselor at Back of the Yards High School. He is also a member of the Chicago Teachers Union and a member of the Local School Council for the Back of the Yards High School.

Political Career: Ortiz defeated Daniel J. Burke in the 2018 Democratic primary as part of a slate of Latino candidates backed by now Congressman Chuy García, and Senator Bernie Sanders. He was sworn into office on January 9, 2019. On March 17, 2020, Ortiz handily defeated his primary challenger Alicia Martinez, a worker with Brackenbox, Inc., and a former staffer and member of Alderman Edward M. Burke’s political organization. On January 21, 2021, Ortiz was added to House Leadership and was named as a new House Majority Caucus Whip. On February 5, 2021, Ortiz was elected as the House Chair for the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.

Committees: As of July 2, 2022, Representative Ortiz is a member of the following Illinois House Committees: Appropriations - Elementary & Secondary Education (HAPE), Appropriations - General Service (HAPG), Appropriations - Human Services (HAPH), Labor & Commerce (HLBR), Medicaid & Managed Care Subcommittee (HAPH-MEDI), Mental Health & Addiction (HMEH), Transportation Issues Subcommittee (HVES-TVSI), Transportation: Vehicles & Safety (HVES).

Ward Committeeperson: On March 18, 2020, the same night of his first re-election, Ortiz defeated 52-year incumbent Edward M. Burke to become the first Latino Ward Committeeperson in Chicago’s 14th Ward.

Electoral History: In the 2018 Democratic primary for the Illinois 1st Representative District, Ortiz received 53.12% of the votes. In the general election, he received 100% of the votes. In the 2020 Democratic primary, Ortiz received 57.85% of the votes. In the general election, he again received 100% of the votes.