{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Jessie Fuentes |image = (6-4-25) Jessie Fuentes (cropped).jpg |caption = Fuentes in 2025 |office = Member of the Chicago City Council<br>from the 26th ward |term_start = May 15, 2023 |term_end = |predecessor = Roberto Maldonado |successor = |birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|32|2023|5|15}} |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |education = Northeastern Illinois University (BA, MEd) }} '''Jessica''' "'''Jessie'''" '''Fuentes''' (born 1990/1991)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://graphics.suntimes.com/chicago-city-council-spata |title=Find Your Alderperson |first=Mitchell |last=Armentrout |accessdate=May 15, 2023 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 15, 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> is an American politician from Chicago. She is the alderperson for Chicago City Council's 26th ward, having won the 2023 election to the office. The 26th ward includes parts of the Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, West Town, and Belmont Cragin neighborhoods.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Jane |title=Jessie Fuentes |url=https://www.humboldtparkinchicago.com/jessiefuenteshumboldtparkmagazine |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Humboldt Park Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life and career == Fuentes grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. She attended Carl Schurz High School and later transferred to Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Mina |date=2023-03-06 |title=Meet Jessie Fuentes, The First Woman And Youngest Alderperson To Lead The 26th Ward |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/03/06/meet-jessie-fuentes-the-first-woman-and-youngest-alderperson-to-lead-the-26th-ward/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en}}</ref> She earned a bachelor's degree in justice studies and Latino and Latin American studies and a Master of Education degree in community and teachers leadership from Northeastern Illinois University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jessie L Fuentes |url=https://www.puertoricanchicago.org/jessie-l-fuentes |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref>
She worked as a program director at the youth center Café Teatro Batey Urbano and later as dean of students at her alma mater Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School and at Roberto Clemente Community Academy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Mina |date=2023-01-17 |title=With Maldonado Off The Ballot, Here's Who Could Lead Humboldt Park As The Next 26th Ward Alderperson |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/01/17/with-maldonado-off-the-ballot-heres-who-could-lead-humboldt-park-as-the-next-26th-ward-alderperson/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en}}</ref> Prior to her election, Fuentes was the director of policy and youth advocacy for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.
== City Council campaign == Fuentes ran to represent the 26th ward in the 2023 election, initially against incumbent Roberto Maldonado. After collecting signatures to appear on the ballot, Maldonado decided against running, making the election an open race.<ref name=":2" /> Maldonado later endorsed Fuentes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Novelo |first=Allison |date=2023-02-14 |title=Open City Council seats in 2 Northwest Side wards spark call for open minds in addressing crime |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2023/2/14/23592059/northwest-wards-26th-30th-maldonado-reboyras-gutierrez-fuentes-rodriguez-cruz-prieto-williams-perez |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> Fuentes won a three-way race in the February 2023 election with over 50% of the vote, negating the need for a runoff election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Mina |date=2023-03-01 |title=Jessie Fuentes Wins 26th Ward Race, Replacing Longtime Ald. Roberto Maldonado |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/02/28/jessie-fuentes-poised-to-win-26th-ward-race-replacing-longtime-ald-roberto-maldonado/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en}}</ref> In the 2023 Chicago mayoral election runoff, Fuentes endorsed eventual winner Brandon Johnson.<ref name=":1" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title=Chicago 26th ward aldermanic general election, 2023<ref name=summarygeneral2023>{{cite web|url=https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2023-12/Proc-2023-02-28.pdf|title=TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE FEBRUARY 28, 2023 MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL OF THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.|publisher=Chicago Board of Elections |access-date=5 April 2025}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Jessie Fuentes |votes = 4,990 |percentage = 55.57 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Julian Perez |votes = 2,863 |percentage = 31.89 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Angee Gonzalez Rodriguez |votes = 1,094 |percentage = 12.18 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Kirk J. Ortiz (write-in) |votes = 32 |percentage = 0.36 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 8,979 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Chicago City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuentes, Jesse}} Category:1990s births Category:American LGBTQ city council members Category:Chicago City Council members Category:Hispanic and Latino American city council members Category:Illinois Democrats Category:Hispanic and Latino American LGBTQ people Category:LGBTQ people from Illinois Category:Living people Category:Northeastern Illinois University alumni Category:Politicians from Chicago Category:Women city councillors in Illinois Category:21st-century American women
{{Illinois-politician-stub}}