State Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, has announced she will seek reelection to her District 22 post rather than make a bid next year for the Congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Raja Krisnamoorthi.
“When I first entered public service, it was with a singular goal: to deliver for my community and make life better for the people of the 22nd District, who I’ve been lucky to call my neighbors for my entire life,” Castro said in a news release.
“Over the past eight years as state senator, I’m proud to have stayed true to that mission — delivering real results and championing the working families of my district. As I think about the future and how I can continue to make the biggest impact, that goal remains my North Star.”
In addition to Elgin, Castro’s district encompasses all or part of 10 communities in Cook and Kane counties.
Her statement came the same week that state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, also announced she also would seek reelection to the House instead of making a bid for Congress.
Krishnamoorthi, who represents the 8th District in the U.S. House, has announced plans to run in the primary for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who plans to retire. Both he and Durbin are Democrats, as are two other candidates who have announced they’re running for the job: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson.
Castro, elected to the state Senate in 2016, is the majority caucus whip for the 103rd General Assembly, chair of the Senate Executive Committee, and a member of the Latino Caucus, according to her website biography. She serves on the Appropriations, Energy and Public Utilities, Insurance, Labor and Revenue committees.
Prior to being elected to the state Senate, she served on the Kane County Board from 2008 to 2016.
Castro holds an associate degree from Elgin Community College and bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from Northern Illinois University.