Delia Ramirez is a history-maker: elected in 2022, she is the first Latina ever elected to Congress from the entire Midwest. The daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, she represents a new voice for the region's growing Latino population, breaking the mold of coastal-dominated Latino leadership in the Democratic caucus.
She represents Illinois’ 3rd District, a newly created Latino-plurality district that stretches from the hip, progressive neighborhoods of Logan Square and Humboldt Park in Chicago to the working-class, heavy-industrial suburbs of West Chicago and Addison. It is a district that bridges the gap between urban gentrification and suburban immigrant labor.
Ramirez brings a uniquely personal perspective to the immigration debate: she is the only member of Congress in a mixed-status marriage. Her husband is a DACA recipient (Dreamer), meaning his legal status is perpetually in limbo. She frequently cites this reality in hearings, arguing that for her family, immigration policy isn't theoretical—it’s the difference between staying together or being separated.
In the 119th Congress, she has taken on a significant oversight role as the Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. She has used this gavel to probe the VA's handling of minority veterans and student veteran benefits, introducing the Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act to help those defrauded by for-profit colleges.
Before Congress, Ramirez was a non-profit executive focused on homelessness and housing. She served as the Executive Director of the Center for Changing Lives and Board Chair of LUCHA. This background drives her intense focus on "Housing as a Human Right," leading her to introduce the Tenants' Right to Organize Act in 2025 to protect renters with federal vouchers.
"She is the first Latina Congresswoman from the Midwest, and she goes home every night to a husband whose legal status is in the hands of the courts. Delia Ramirez lives the policy she fights for."
Delia Ramirez: The Bridge Builder
Delia Ramirez represents the new face of the Midwest. Born in Chicago to working-class immigrants who crossed the border while pregnant with her, Ramirez grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood witnessing the struggles of the working poor. Her parents worked multiple low-wage jobs to keep a roof over their heads, an experience that radicalized her on the issue of housing stability.
She spent nearly two decades in the non-profit sector, leading organizations that fought for affordable housing and homeless prevention. Unlike many politicians who come from law or business, Ramirez came from social work. She was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2018, where she quickly rose to leadership, co-founding the Progressive Caucus and passing legislation to expand Medicaid to undocumented seniors.
When the 2020 Census resulted in a new, Latino-plurality district in Illinois, Ramirez was the natural choice to run. She won decisively, uniting a coalition of progressive white voters in Chicago's gentrifying northwest side and working-class Latino families in the western suburbs.
In Washington, Ramirez is a proud progressive, often aligning with "The Squad" on economic and foreign policy issues. However, she distinguishes herself with her hyper-focus on housing and veterans. As the Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, she has proven to be a diligent investigator. In late 2025, she co-led a high-profile inquiry into the VA’s creation of a database tracking non-citizen veterans, arguing that it could be weaponized for deportations.
Her legislative style is defined by her "lived experience." Whether she is debating the Homeland Security Committee about border enforcement or pushing for the American Dream and Promise Act, she frequently reminds her colleagues that she is the wife of a Drea...
