The December 2019 archive photo shows Rep. Sean Casten, a Democrat Democrat, in the House as lawmakers debated impeachment articles against then-President Donald Trump. House Television via AP, File
Illinois Congressman Sean Casten announced Monday night that his 17-year-old daughter, Gwen, has died, CBS Chicago reports.
“The Casten family is asking for privacy and we will not comment further during this heartbreaking time,” Casten’s office said in an email.
He had just graduated from high school, according to a tweet from his father in late May. Her Twitter biography says she co-directed the Illinois chapter of March for Our Lives, the youth gun advocacy group.
FILE: Photo of Gwen Casten’s Twitter biography
Shortly before Casten’s congressional office announced her daughter’s death, Casten’s campaign called on all Illinois television stations to immediately remove ads from her campaign until further notice.
Downers Grove Democrat Casten, 50, is running for his third term in Congress in the new 6th District, which he has represented since he defeated Republican Congressman Peter Roskam in 2018.
Casten runs against current first-year student Marie Newman and Nicor operations mechanic Charles Hughes.
“I am heartbroken by the Casten family for the devastating loss of their daughter. My prayers are with Sean, Kara and the entire Casten family,” Newman said in a statement.
Newman also immediately suspends all ads in his campaign.
Newman chose to challenge Casten in the 2022 primary after the Democratic-approved congressional map of the state capital of Springfield put her in the heavily Hispanic 3rd District, which is represented by Rep. Jesus “Chuy.” Garcia.
Hughes, who is also a former candidate for mayor in Chicago’s 23rd district, ran against Newman in 2020 in the 3rd district of the state Congress, but finished in a distant quarter with only 2.3% of the vote in this race.
Hughes’ campaign representatives could not be reached for comment immediately.