Politics
Who Is Running, or Thinking About Running, to Become Chicago’s Next Mayor
Chicago’s next mayoral election is less than a year away and the list of candidates — and those considering a run — is growing ever larger.
Petitions for a spot on the ballot began circulating July 28 and are due in late October.
Here is a breakdown of who’s running and who may still enter the race ahead of the Feb. 23, 2027, election.
The Incumbent
Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson takes “Chicago Tonight” on a tour of the Austin neighborhood on April 13, 2023. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
Chicago’s current mayor has long spoken about his plans to serve multiple terms in office, but Johnson has not yet formally announced his plans to run for reelection next year.
Still, it would be a surprise if the former Chicago Teachers Union organizer and Cook County commissioner opts not to seek a second term.
The Current Field
Susana Mendoza
Current Job: Illinois state comptroller
Mendoza, a former state legislator and Chicago city clerk, threw her hat into the ring to become the city’s next mayor on June 3.
If elected, she said she would curb City Hall spending, rebuild trust between residents and police and ensure a safe, clean and reliable CTA transit system.
Mendoza previously ran for mayor in 2019, finishing in fifth place. When Mendoza announced last year that she would not seek another term as comptroller, she said she had a “specific mission” in mind — a listening tour across Chicago to hear from residents about what they needed from the city.
“I took the time to listen, time to reflect and time to decide how I could make the biggest impact on people’s lives,” Mendoza said at a campaign launch event in Little Village.
Website: susanamendoza.com
Mike Quigley
Current Job: U.S. representative for Illinois’ 5th District
The veteran Democratic legislator, who has long considered running for mayor, officially kicked off his campaign with a speech June 27 at the Uptown Theatre.
Quigley has been in Congress since 2009. He has pledged to tackle Chicago’s budget issues and provide strong schools in every community, expanded mental health services and an abundant supply of housing.
“It’s tough to see the city you love so much struggle in the way that we are in Chicago,” Quigley said. “The fact of the matter is, Chicago has everything it needs to succeed — its location, its people, its cultural institutions, its universities, its neighborhoods — but it’s all resting on a crumbling financial foundation.”
Website: quigleyforchicago.com
George Cardenas
Current Job: Cook County Board of Review commissioner
The longtime 12th Ward alderperson announced his plans to run for mayor June 17, promising to fix the city’s fiscal and public safety issues.
During his nearly 20 years on the Chicago City Council, Cardenas chaired its Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy and served as an ally to former Mayors Richard M. Daley, Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot.
Cardenas has focused his campaign on fiscal discipline, Tax Incremental Financing reform and public safety improvements. He said his record as an elected official gives him an advantage, adding that Chicago’s current leadership has had issues with “mismanagement.”
“I think Chicago is ready for someone to govern,” Cardenas said. “I think Chicago wants someone who knows the numbers, who can bring some sense into all of the spending that’s happening. … We gotta manage this whole ecosystem and make it better.”
Website: cardenas4chicago.com
Matt Brewer
Current Job: Partner at the law firm Bartlit Beck
The former Chicago Housing Authority board chair, whom Johnson sought to oust earlier this year, entered the race June 25 seeking to replace the mayor.
The South Side native is not a career politician but comes with a diverse resume. He’s a co-owner of the iconic Wiener’s Circle and co-owns the city’s first Black-owned marijuana dispensary alongside his brother and mom. Brewer remains a board member on the Housing Authority.
“The next mayor will step into a seat that no other mayor has stepped into where we have a fully elected school board for the first time ever, less direct control over transportation, we have a fully empowered and independent City Council that’s passed budgets around, instead of with, the mayor, and all these agencies like CHA and others who’ve become a lot more independent as well. Fractured relationships in City Council, fractured relationships in Springfield. The next mayor can’t step in and put all those genies back in the bottle,” Brewer said. “We have a new day of governance, a new day of leadership. We now need a mayor for this particular moment who can wear lots of different hats, speak different languages to different people to bring everyone together around a shared vision.”
Website: mattbrewer.com
Joe Holberg
Current Job: Founder and CEO, Spring
The Michigan-born businessman became the first candidate to officially enter the 2027 race when he kicked off his campaign last fall.
The founder and CEO of Spring, a wealth advisory firm, Holberg said he will prioritize growing Chicago’s economy, eliminating debt and expanding housing options.
“I’ve worked in nonprofit, I’ve worked at large companies and I even started a company and created jobs in Chicago,” Holberg said. “And I think that fresh perspective and that diversity of experiences will lend itself to being the next mayor.”
Website: joeforchicago.com
Lisa Nee
Current Job: Healthcare and public policy advisor
The former cardiologist and whistleblower launched a bid for Chicago mayor July 7. Nee began her career as a nurse and later became an interventional cardiologist. While working at Hines VA Hospital, Nee spoke out about failures in patient care that put veterans at risk.
The Humboldt Park native said her priorities include making Chicago affordable for working families; trusted leadership for a safer city; and fiscal responsibility that protects the next generation from inherited debt.
“I think the qualifications start with being a lifelong Chicagoan,” Nee said. “The other qualifications, though, have followed me on the journey from nurse to physician to whistleblower, breast cancer survivor, going into corporate, health equity and now really wanting to lead the city. I think it’s a combination of all of those things that you learn to navigate difficult situations but also learn where your leverage is and who your stakeholders are to get things solved for people.”
Website: lisaneeforchicago.com
Alexi Giannoulias
Current Job: Illinois secretary of state
Alexi Giannoulias (Campaign photo)
Giannoulias entered the race for Chicago mayor on Aug. 2. He is simultaneously running for a second term as secretary of state, a position he has held since 2023. Giannoulias previously served as state treasurer for four years and unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010.
His goals for Chicago include implementing universal pre-K, raising the minimum wage and expanding affordable housing.
“Chicagoans don’t expect perfection, but they do expect leadership that listens, that rolls up its sleeves to work hard, and that loves this city as much as they do,” Giannoulias said in his announcement speech, promising to lead a “government that delivers, government that demands better, and that gets things done.”
Website: alexiforus.com
John Kelly
Current Job: Owner of All-Circo
John Kelly (Campaign video, YouTube)
Longtime lobbyist John Kelly entered the race July 28. He has lobbied for the White Sox and United Center and negotiated the Bally’s agreement that opened the city’s first casino.
Kelly wants the Chicago Police Department to enforce snap curfews to curb teen takeovers and said there would be 1,000 additional officers on the streets after his first year in office. Kelly wants to bring back ShotSpotter and alleges Johnson got rid of the controversial technology to hide how much crime is in the city.
“Keeping people safe should be the mayor’s No. 1 priority,” Kelly said in a campaign video. “We used to have about 400 police officers riding the trains. On my first day as mayor, I’m going to start putting them back.”
Website: johnkellyforchi.com
Willie Wilson
Current Job: Founder, Omar Supplies, LLC
Willie Wilson (Campaign photo)
On Aug. 5, Wilson announced he was making his fourth mayoral run — having previously sought the office in 2015, 2019 and 2023. The Chicago businessman and philanthropist has run for political office numerous times over the years, including a presidential campaign in 2016 and a U.S. Senate bid in 2020.
Wilson, a self-made millionaire who founded a medical supply company, said on his campaign website he intends to focus on public safety, education and the economy.
“I believe we have been divided too long,” he wrote. “It can no longer be Republican against Democrat, citizens against police, white versus Black, and rich versus poor. We must achieve the original vision of our country, to be a place where all people can be free to pursue life, liberty and happiness, truly one nation under God.”
Website: williewilson2027.com
Potential Candidate
Maria Pappas
Current Job: Cook County treasurer
After nearly 30 years serving as treasurer, Pappas appears ready to seek her next gig as Chicago’s mayor.
While she hasn’t officially launched her campaign, Pappas has said she intends to run in 2027. But she’s first running for another four-year term as treasurer this fall. She previously told ABC 7 Chicago she’ll begin her mayoral campaign after that election.
Dropped Out
Liam Stanton
Current Job: Founder and principal, June Capital
A small business owner and Rogers Park native, Stanton ran on what he called a “Hit the Gas” platform that prioritizes accelerating Chicago growth, lowering the cost of living and modernizing Chicago police deployments and community partnerships.
Stanton is the founder of the Chicago Style Project, a neighborhood group that works to provide solutions to city issues to help make Chicago easier to live in.
On Aug. 10, Stanton dropped out of the race and endorsed Alexi Giannoulias.
