2027 Chicago mayoral election

2027 Chicago mayoral election

←  2023 February 23, 2027 2031 →

Incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson

The 2027 Chicago mayoral election will be held on February 23, 2027, to elect the mayor of Chicago. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff election will be held on April 6, 2027. ^[1]

Candidates

Declared

Candidate	Experience	Announced	Ref
Joe Holberg	Founder and CEO of Holberg Financial (2015–present)	October 6, 2025 Website	[2]
Maria Pappas	Treasurer of Cook County (1998–present) Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1990–1998)	November 17, 2025	[3]

Expressed interest

• Rahm Emanuel, former mayor (2011–2019), senior advisor to Bill Clinton (1993–1998), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from IL–5 (2003–2009), White House chief of staff (2009–2010), and U.S. ambassador to Japan (2022–2025) ^{[4] [5]}
• Susana Mendoza, Illinois comptroller (2016–present), former member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2001–2011) and Chicago city clerk (2011–2016), and 2019 mayoral candidate ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Liam Stanton, technological executive ^[9]
• Mike Quigley, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 5th congressional district (2009–present) and former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 10th district (1998–2009) ^{[6] [10] [11] [12]}

Potential

The following individuals have received media speculation as being prospective candidates:

• Kam Buckner, member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 26th district (2019–present), 2023 mayoral candidate ^{[6] [10]}
• Bill Conway, Chicago City Council alderman (2023–present) and 2020 Cook County state's attorney candidate ^{[6] [10]}
• Alexi Giannoulias, treasurer of Illinois (2007–2011), Illinois secretary of state (2023–present) and 2010 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate ^{[6] [7] [10]}
• Luis Gutiérrez, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th congressional district (1993–2019) ^[10]
• Brian K. Hopkins, Chicago City Council alderman from the 2nd ward (2015–present) ^[10]
• Janice K. Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (2017–2021) ^{[13] [10]}
• Brandon Johnson, incumbent mayor (2023–present) and former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 1st district (2018–2023) ^{[6] [7]}
• Raymond Lopez, Chicago City Council alderman from the 15th ward (2015–present) and 2023 mayoral candidate ^{[14] [15] [16]}
• Lisa Madigan, former attorney general of Illinois (2003–2019) and member of the Illinois Senate from the 17th district (1999–2003) ^[17]
• Brendan Reilly, Chicago City Council alderman from the 42nd ward (2007–present), president pro tempore of the Chicago City Council (2019–2023) and vice Mayor of Chicago (2015–2019) ^[18]
• Silvana Tabares, member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 21st district (2013–2018) and Chicago City Council alderman from the 23rd ward (2018–present) ^[6]
• Anna M. Valencia, Chicago city clerk (2017–present) and 2022 Illinois Secretary of State candidate ^{[6] [10]}
• Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), 2019 and 2023 mayoral candidate, 2014 Democratic lieutenant governor nominee and 2002 Democratic gubernatorial candidate ^[19]
• Andre Vasquez, Chicago City Council alderman from the 40th ward (2019–present) ^[9]
• Gilbert Villegas, Chicago City Council alderman from the 36th ward (2015–present) ^[6]
• Willie Wilson, medical supplies company founder and perennial candidate ^[9]

Declined

• Chuy Garcia, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th congressional district (2019–present) and 2015 and 2023 mayoral candidate ^[20]

Polling

Brandon Johnson vs. Maria Pappas

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Brandon Johnson	Maria Pappas	Undecided
Victory Research [21] [A]	September 27–29, 2025	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	23%	56%	21%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Anthony Beale	Kam Buckner	Bill Conway	Alexi Giannoualis	Ja'Mal Green	Luis Gutiérrez	Brandon Johnson	Susana Mendoza	Paul Vallas	Gilbert Villegas	Willie Wilson	Other / Undecided
M3 Strategies [22]	February 21–22, 2025	696 (LV)	± 3.7%	4%	6%	6%	21%	3%	5%	8%	12%	27%	2%	6%	–

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. This poll was sponsored by Pappas

References

1. "Schedule of Elections - Revised.xlsx" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
2. ""I just can't wait:" First candidate enters Chicago mayor's race". MSN. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
3. "Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to run for Chicago mayor: 'I'm in'". Yahoo. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
4. "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.
5. "Rahm Emanuel suggests he might want to run for mayor of Chicago again". CBS News. March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
6. "Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias Urged to Consider Chicago Mayoral Run". NBC Chicago. November 20, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
7. Maragos, Alex (April 9, 2025). "With 2 Years Left in Mayor Johnson's First Term, Notable Names Considering a Run to Unseat Him". NBC Chicago.
8. "Susana Mendoza won't run for reelection, 'leaving door open' to Chicago mayoral race". NBC Chicago. July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
9. "Tech exec Liam Stanton eyes mayoral run". Politico. July 28, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
10. McClelland, Edward (February 10, 2025). "Who Will Be Our Next Mayor?". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
11. Kapos, Shia (August 8, 2025). "Power plays by Mike Quigley, Brendan Reilly". POLITICO. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
12. "Could Rep. Mike Quigley join list of potential Chicago mayoral candidates?". NBC Chicago. August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
13. Hinz, Craig (November 21, 2024). "Johnson's Weakness Is Spurring An Early Start to the Next Mayoral Sweepstakes". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
14. Noone, Sean (January 26, 2025). "Dems take 'government for granted' on immigration: Chicago alderman". News Nation. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
15. Sheridan, Jake (February 19, 2025). "Mayor Brandon Johnson's Infrastructure borrowing plan stalled by City Council Opponents". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
16. "Ald. Raymond Lopez bows out of mayor race, will seek reelection to City Council". Chicago Tribune. November 21, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
17. "Laura Washington: Chicago mayoral wannabes are already edging to the gate". Chicago Tribune. July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
18. Speilman, Fran (September 12, 2024). "Brandon Johnson A 'Woefully Unprepared' Mayor, City Council Critic Says". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
19. "'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.
20. "Chuy Garcia chats about dropping reelection bid, career". Chicago Sun Times. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
21. "Poll of 800 Likely Chicago Voters" . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
22. "Poll: Mayor Johnson's re-elect in crowded field is 8 percent; Just 7 percent view him favorably, 80 percent unfavorably (Updated)". Capitol Fax. February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Joe Holberg for Mayor