About the Candidate
Name: Maggie O’Keefe
DOB: June 7, 1989
Family: My partner Adam, my mom and dad, and my younger brother and sister
Occupation: Digital Marketing Professional
Political Experience: I consulted on campaigns for the 2018 primary, including
Ameya Pawar for Governor, Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor and four judicial races. As a champion for voting rights and access to the voting booth through education, in 2017 I organized deputy voter registrar trainings to over 500
Cook County voters resulting in thousands of newly registered voters ahead of the
2018 and 2019 elections.
Website: maggie2019.com
Candidate Statement
Hi, I’m Maggie O’Keefe and I’m running for alderman of the 40th Ward.
I grew up in a middle-class family, with my dad working days as a union worker for the railroad and my mom working nights as a waitress. Seeing them strive for a better future taught me the value of hard work, and I became the first O’Keefe to graduate from college.
I joined the workforce during the recession, but that didn’t stop me from starting my own digital marketing company with no capital investment.
For the past two years, I’ve consulted on political campaigns and I’ve spent my time registering and educating voters. I organized over 500 Cook County voter registrar trainings, and together we registered thousands of new voters ahead of the 2018 general election.
Now I’m running for alderman to be the public servant the 40th Ward deserves. Residents have been left uninformed and uninspired to make change by an incumbent that has held office for 35 years. My campaign has been out knocking doors since February 1st of 2018, to meet voters where they are and to talk about the issues that matter most. Equity in education, small business development, affordable housing, and modernization of our public safety networks are issues that we can and we will address together.
As alderman, I will institute participatory budgeting, community zoning reform, and I will hold regular town hall meetings for residents to speak directly to their most local representative.
So, Let’s Start Here. We can make history on February 26th by electing me as the first woman alderman to represent the 40th Ward, to build a sustainable community, one we’re proud to live in and proud to share.
Head over to, maggie2019.com, to let me know how we can work together!
Candidate Q&A
What is your vision for this office?
• Equity in education for equal opportunity
• Small business development through community zoning reform
• Affordable housing for all
• Modernizing our public safety networks
• Environmental sustainability
What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?
I have been going door-to-door since February 2018 to talk to 40th Ward residents and have created our 40th Ward Community Roadmap Project, where people can contact us directly about ward needs and ideas. An issue that is critically important to 40th Ward residents is equity in education. We plan to:
1. Suspend the creation of new charter schools or magnet schools in the 40th Ward
2. Expand Universal Pre-K and Kindergarten access to provide high quality, full-day school days to families and educators
3. Seek grants and partner with local nonprofits to boost afterschool programming and safe havens for students
4. Establish an elected Chicago Public Schools board to truly represent the needs of parents and children
