Luis Gutiérrez

Luis Gutiérrez


Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1993
Preceded by	George Sangmeister
Member of the Chicago City Council from Ward 26
In office May 2, 1986 – December 12, 1992
Preceded by	Michael Nardulli
Succeeded by	Billy Ocasio
Personal details
Born	Luis Vicente Gutiérrez (1953-12-10) December 10, 1953 (age 63) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic PIP
Spouse(s)	Soraida Arocho
Children	2 daughters
Alma mater	Northeastern Illinois University
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature
Website	House website

Luis Vicente Gutiérrez (born December 10, 1953) is an American politician and the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 4th congressional district, serving since 1993. From 1986 until his election to Congress, he served as a member of the Chicago City Council representing the 26th ward. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He is recognized as the "national leader on comprehensive immigration reform." In the 113th Congress, with his 20 years of service, Gutiérrez became the longest serving member of the Illinois House delegation, and so is occasionally referred to as the unofficial "dean" of the delegation.

Of Puerto Rican descent, he is a supporter of Puerto Rican independence, and the Vieques movement. Gutiérrez is also an outspoken advocate of workers' rights, LGBT rights, gender equality, and other liberal and progressive causes. Gutiérrez has been compared to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., due to both figures' use of non-violent civil disobedience in their advocacy for the equal rights of their communities. In 2010 Frank Sharry of America's Voice, an immigration reform advocacy group, said of Gutiérrez: "He’s as close as the Latino community has to a Martin Luther King figure." His supporters have given him the nickname El Gallito – the little fighting rooster – in reference to his fiery oratory and political prowess.