The campaign ahead of Chicago’s mayoral election has officially kicked into high gear. The deadline to file petitions with the city’s election board passed Monday, Oct. 26. More than a dozen candidates submitted signatures as they look to take on incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Among the last to turn in petitions were Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Lisa Nee. A week earlier, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley were among those who filed. Johnson himself submitted his paperwork late last week.
A candidate needs at least 12,000 valid signatures from registered Chicago voters to get on the ballot. Candidates usually submit many more, because some may be challenged. According to ABC7, Giannoulias turned in about 60,000 signatures, Pappas almost 40,000, Johnson more than 33,000, Nee more than 31,000 and Mendoza 26,000.
Now the objection phase begins. Rivals have until Nov. 2 to challenge their competitors’ petitions, so the number of names on the ballot could shrink. For those who filed on the first or last day, the board will hold a drawing for the top or bottom spot on the ballot. Those positions are considered a slight advantage.
The election will be held Feb. 23, 2027. If no candidate wins more than half of the vote, the top two finishers will face each other in a runoff on April 6.
Source: CBS Chicago, ABC7 Chicago
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