Latonya Mitts is a small business owner, public servant, and lifelong resident of Chicago’s West Side running to represent Illinois’ 8th District in the State House. Born and raised in the Austin community, Latonya has built her life in the district she hopes to serve while raising her two children here, running businesses here, and working alongside neighbors to uplift the people and places she calls home.

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As the daughter of longtime Alderman Emma Mitts, Latonya was raised in the heart of public service—attending beat meetings, block clubs, and CAPS forums from a young age. But her path is her own. A proud single mother of two, Latonya balanced entrepreneurship, parenting, and multiple jobs—including night shifts on the Chicago Skyway and work with the Department of Transportation—gaining firsthand insight into the realities of working families.

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She built a successful salon from the ground up, creating jobs and supporting her community. Her professional journey spans healthcare, where she helped women access vital services at The Women’s Group of Northwestern, to public policy, serving as Chief of Staff to State Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams. As former President of the 37th Ward Young Democrats, she’s remained committed to empowering youth through service and civic engagement—a commitment that continues today.

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Latonya is running for State Representative because she believes the government must work for and with working families. Too many decisions are made about people without including them. Across the 8th District, families face rising costs, underfunded schools, and gaps in healthcare that force hard choices.

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Her top priorities are education, economic stability, and community well-being. That includes fully funding public schools, ensuring students have access to mental health services, supporting working families as costs rise, and investing in community-based resources that keep neighborhoods healthy and safe. Every policy she champions is guided by a simple question: Does this help families in the 8th District live with stability, dignity, and opportunity?

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Latonya understands this district because she’s lived every part of it: as a daughter, a mother, a worker, and a neighbor. She’s not just asking for your vote. She’s showing up to do the work. Her campaign isn’t about politics as usual. It’s about people, purpose, and the belief that real change starts with communities across the entire 8th District — from every neighborhood, every block, every family ready to move forward together.

 

Putting the 8th FIRST.