2027 Chicago mayoral election
 | |||
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
The 2027 Chicago mayoral election will be held on February 23, 2027, to elect the mayor of Chicago. If no candidate win a majority of votes, a runoff election will be held on April 6, 2027.[1]
Candidates
Declared
| Candidate | Experience | Announced | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) George Cardenas |
Member of the Cook County Board of Review from the 1st district (2022–present) Alderman from the 12th ward (2003–2022) |
June 15, 2026 |
[2] |
.jpg) Joe Holberg |
Founder and CEO of Holberg Financial (2015–2023) |
 October 6, 2025 Website |
[3] |
 Susana Mendoza |
Illinois comptroller (2016–present) Chicago city clerk (2011–2016) 2019 mayoral candidate |
 June 3, 2026 Website |
[4][5] |
 Maria Pappas |
Treasurer of Cook County (1998–present) Cook County commissioner (1990–1998) |
November 17, 2025 |
[6] |
.jpg) Mike Quigley |
U.S. Representative from Illinois's 5th congressional district (2009–present) Cook County commissioner (1998–2009) |
 June 27, 2026 Website |
[7] |
 Liam Stanton |
Business owner |  February 22, 2026 Website |
[8] |
Minor candidates
- Johnny Logalbo, addiction recovery counselor[9]
Expressed interest
- Kam Buckner, state representative from the 26th district (2019–present), 2023 mayoral candidate[10][11][12]
- Bill Conway, Chicago City Council alderman (2023–present) and 2020 Cook County state's attorney candidate[10][11][13][14][15]
- Rahm Emanuel, former mayor (2011–2019)[16][17]
- Alexi Giannoulias, treasurer of Illinois (2007–2011), Illinois secretary of state (2023–present) and 2010 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate[18][10][19][20][15]
- Brandon Johnson, incumbent mayor (2023–present) and former Cook County commissioner from the 1st district (2018–2023)[10][19][13][21]
- John Kelly, lobbyist[22]
Potential
The following individuals have received media speculation as being prospective candidates:
- Luis Gutiérrez, former U.S. representative from Illinois's 4th congressional district (1993–2019)[11]
- Brian K. Hopkins, Chicago City Council alderman from the 2nd ward (2015–present)[11]
- Raymond Lopez, Chicago alderman from the 15th ward (2015–present) and candidate for mayor in 2023[23][24][25]
- Lisa Madigan, former attorney general of Illinois (2003–2019)[26]
- Silvana Tabares, Chicago alderman from the 23rd ward (2018–present)[10]
- Anna Valencia, Chicago city clerk (2017–present) and candidate for Illinois Secretary of State in 2022[10][11]
- Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), candidate for mayor in 2019 and 2023, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014, and candidate for governor in 2002[27]
- Andre Vasquez, Chicago alderman from the 40th ward (2019–present)[28][13]
- Willie Wilson, medical supplies company founder and perennial candidate[18][29]
Declined
- Chuy Garcia, U.S. representative from Illinois's 4th congressional district (2019–present) and candidate for mayor in 2015 and 2023[30]
- Janice Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (2017–2021)[31][32]
References
- ↑ "Schedule of Elections - Revised.xlsx" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ↑ Feurer, Todd. "Former Ald. George Cardenas set to launch bid for mayor of Chicago". CBS. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ ""I just can't wait:" First candidate enters Chicago mayor's race". WBBM. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025 – via MSN.
- ↑ "Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announces campaign for mayor of Chicago". MSN. June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announces campaign for Chicago mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to run for Chicago mayor: 'I'm in'". Yahoo. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "Rep Quigley Confirms Bid for Chicago Mayor". WGN. January 6, 2026. Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Small business owner Liam Stanton announces run for Chicago mayor". CBS News. 2026-02-22. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Johnny Logalbo for Mayor - Official Campaign Website". Johnny Logalbo for Mayor. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias Urged to Consider Chicago Mayoral Run". NBC Chicago. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 McClelland, Edward (February 10, 2025). "Who Will Be Our Next Mayor?". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ↑ "2 names join the mayoral mix". Politico. May 4, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Kapos, Shia (January 21, 2026). "Chicago mayor's race: wink, wink". Politico. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ KAPOS, SHIA (June 6, 2025). "Conway's big money moves". Politico. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- 1 2 Shaw, Andy (February 2, 2026). "2027 mayoral race piquing interest of notable names". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ "Rahm Emanuel won't rule out another run for Chicago mayor, but says city and Democratic Party need work". The Chicago Tribune. March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Rahm Emanuel suggests he might want to run for mayor of Chicago again". CBS News. March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- 1 2 McClelland, Edward Robert (January 12, 2026). "Who Will Be Chicago's Next Mayor?". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- 1 2 Maragos, Alex (9 April 2025). "With 2 Years Left in Mayor Johnson's First Term, Notable Names Considering a Run to Unseat Him". NBC Chicago.
- ↑ KAPOS, SHIA (January 6, 2026). "Giannoulias cash surge fuels City Hall buzz". Politico. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ Ahern, Mary Ann (2026-02-23). "Chicago's mayoral election is exactly 1 year away, and here's the current field". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ Herguth, Robert (January 29, 2026). "Veteran lobbyist with clients who regularly intersect with City Hall weighs run for Chicago mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ Noone, Sean (26 January 2025). "Dems take 'government for granted' on immigration: Chicago alderman". News Nation. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ↑ Sheridan, Jake (19 February 2025). "Mayor Brandon Johnson's Infrastructure borrowing plan stalled by City Council Opponents". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ↑ "Ald. Raymond Lopez bows out of mayor race, will seek reelection to City Council". Chicago Tribune. 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ↑ "Laura Washington: Chicago mayoral wannabes are already edging to the gate". Chicago Tribune. July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ↑ "'Did Not Know It Was Even Possible to Go That Low': You Won't Believe Chicago Mayor's Favorable Ratings". Townhall. February 24, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Tech exec Liam Stanton eyes mayoral run". Politico. July 28, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ Washington, Laura (March 25, 2026). "Mayor Brandon Johnson's reelection campaign will be in trouble if Willie Wilson runs again". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ "Chuy Garcia chats about dropping reelection bid, career". Chicago Sun-Times. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ Hinz, Craig (21 November 2024). "Johnson's Weakness Is Spurring An Early Start to the Next Mayoral Sweepstakes". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ↑ Turbay, Laura (August 15, 2025). "Janice Jackson Takes New job at Vistria Group, Dismisses Talk of Mayoral Run". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved February 20, 2026.