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Julia Ramirez (born April 19,1991) is the alderperson of the 12th Ward of the city of Chicago. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She beat Anabel Anarca in the 2023 election. The 12th Ward is located in southwest Chicago and includes most of McKinley Park and Brighton Park. Her campaign was for holistic public safety strategies and implementing a “community-driven process” to vet industry and businesses. This was the first time Ramirez ran for Chicago public office. She previously worked in Chicago Public School s as a social worker, with a background in community activism.

Early Life
Ramirez was born and raised in Brighton Park and currently resides in her childhood home.

Ramirez attended Catholic private schools Our Lady of Fatima and and Five Holy Martyrs in Brighton Park. She attended a boarding school in California on a scholarship.

After high school, Ramirez moved back to Brighton Park and worked with Chicago nonprofits including Latinos Progresando, Instituto de Progreso Latino, BUILD Chicago, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, and Increase the Peace. She was a re-engagement specialist at Chicago Public Schools. She attended Northeastern Illinois University to earn her degree and license in school social work.

October 2023 Attack
On October 19, 2023, residents in Brighton Park protested Chicago’s mayor Brandon Johnson plans for a migrant winterized tent community in the neighborhood. Many migrants have been sleeping at Chicago Police Departments. Ramirez and an anonymous aide attended the protest “to address misinformation being spread about my involvement with the plan and how we should move forward as a community.” However, the crowds surrounded her and her aide and assaulted them.

In early December 2023, it was announced that Governor J. B. Pritzker stopped the building of the tents. This was due to environmental concerns of heavy metals and toxins. Ramirez states mixed emotions as “There were big concerns about public safety and I believe that public safety is providing people with shelter and feeding people, but we also need to make sure that it works for everybody.” Ramirez stated disappointment with the lack of communication with other Chicago politicians.

Stances on Issues
Her brother, Nicholas Ramirez, was killed at 19 years old from gun violence.

During the campaign, Ramirez stated she wants to address public safety with a holistic approach. introduce resources to act as preventive measurements for community members, such as those that provide mental health and social services. Ramirez stated the need for transparency in addressing food insecurity and housing. She advocates for: gun violence prevention, fully funded education with after school programs, career services, and safe public transit. She also states the need of protection of the environment. In election interviews, she states plans to collaborate with the District Coordinating Officer's (DCO) and Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) council representatives to address these issues.

Ramirez is against the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) selling land for housing for low income families to private companies. Ramirez wants to approach small contractors to provide housing to families and provide rent-to-own options.

Ramirez is against aldermanic prerogative.

Election
Ramirez ran against Alderperson Anabel Abarca in the 2023 12th Ward election. Abarca had been on the city council since December of 2022 when she was appointed to the 12th Ward by Mayor Lori Lightfoo t after former Ald. George Cardenas stepped down. Abarca was Ramirez’s only challenger after a third candidate was removed from the ballot. In an interview with Block Club, Ramirez said she woke up every morning to fight with her campaign centered around holistic public safety strategies and implementing a “community-driven process.” Ramirez won on February 28th, 2023 with a 57 percent vote over Abarca’s 43 percent. Ramirez set up a “community needs assessment” to understand what the community of the southwest side wanted to see from her during her term. She also stated in interviews that she is proud to accomplish something the community has been voicing a need for, for a long time. Ramirez's term started on May 15th, 2023 and ends May 17th, 2027.

Personal Career
Before becoming an alderperson, Ramirez worked with Chicago Public Schools as a re-engagement specialist. She was a restorative justice practitioner and social worker. Ramirez has a background in community activism. She helped immigrant communities access resources and mitigate crime. Ramirez has worked with the organization BUILD, including their wiki page.

Electoral history
The May 2023- May 2027 term is Ramirez's first term in office.