The last group of Chicago mayoral candidates submitted tens of thousands of signatures Monday to officially get on the ballot for the Feb. 23, 2027, election. The field is now set for those who will face Brandon Johnson, who is seeking a second term as mayor of the Windy City.
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said a total of 16 candidates have filed to run for mayor. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Cook County Board of Review member George Cardenas, businessman Joe Holberg, developer Zoe Ma, Chicago Department of Transportation official Jessica Maronto and Danielle Carter-Walters, founder of the group “Chicago Flips Red,” were the last candidates to submit their paperwork, which qualified them for the drawing for the final spot on the ballot.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza was the first to file her signatures Monday morning. Cardiologist Dr. Lisa Nee, attorney William Quinlan and John Kitover, who describes his views as Republican-libertarian, also turned in the required signatures that day. Mendoza, who will appear seventh on the ballot, told reporters she collected 26,000 signatures, fewer than any of her known rivals. Nee, who will be eighth on the ballot, told reporters she collected 31,000 signatures, while Quinlan, who will be ninth, said his campaign collected 26,000 signatures.
Mayor Brandon Johnson officially filed for reelection last Friday, becoming the sixth candidate on the list. He submitted 33,000 signatures to the election board. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, businessman Willie Wilson, longtime lobbyist John Kelly and former Chicago Housing Authority board chair Matt Brewer filed their candidacy paperwork a week ago and are vying for the first spot on the ballot.
Candidates for mayor must submit at least 12,500 signatures from registered Chicago voters. Those who filed fewer than three times the required number of signatures could find themselves in a difficult position and may face a weekslong dispute over hundreds or even thousands of signatures. According to the documents, any objections must be filed by Nov. 2, and the list of candidates on the ballot is scheduled to be approved on Dec. 17.
Mail-in ballots for the Chicago mayoral election are scheduled to be sent out starting Jan. 14, and early voting will begin the same day. The Chicago mayoral election will take place on Feb. 23 next year. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held on April 6, between the candidates who receive the most support in the first round. The new terms for mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, all 50 members of the Chicago City Council and members of the police district councils begin on May 17.
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Source: Polski.FM
