Anthony Joel Quezada grew up in Logan Square, a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side formerly comprised of a majority Latin American migrants and immigrants. After several years of working as Neighborhood Services Director for socialist city council member Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and organizing around issues like affordable housing in the neighborhood, Quezada is running for a seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Chicago has been one of the most successful electoral arenas for socialists in recent years, winning six different aldermanic districts. Quezada, the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and a coalition of a number of the city’s progressive elected officials, community groups, and unions have set their sights on the 8th district of the Cook County Board. The seat is currently occupied by Luis Arroyo Jr, who has been the subject of a federal corruption investigation.

Quezada sat down with Jacobin contributor Peter Lucas to discuss his journey to democratic socialism, his work in Chicago’s 35th ward, and his campaign for county commissioner.