John Laesch | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Aurora | |
| Assumed office May 13, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Irvin |
| Alderman of Aurora at-large | |
| In office May 2023 –May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Sherman Jenkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 (age 51–52) |
| Nationality | American |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jennifer Laesch |
| Alma mater | Illinois State University |
| Profession | Union Carpenter |
John Laesch (born 1974) is an American Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Illinois. He is the mayor of Aurora,Illinois,after defeating incumbent Richard Irvin in 2025. He served as an alderman in Aurora from 2023 to 2025,and was a candidate for Congress in 2006 and 2008. He is a Democrat.
Laesch was born in Monrovia,Liberia to missionary parents. A veteran of the United States Navy,he enlisted in 1995 and served as an intelligence analyst in the Middle East. Following his honorable discharge from the military in 1999,Laesch earned a degree in history from Illinois State University. [1]
Laesch is a political progressive. [1] He has held various leadership roles in Democratic campaigns in his state. In 2004,Laesch served as the campaign manager for David Gill in Illinois' 15th congressional district. [1]
In 2006,Laesch ran for Illinois's 14th congressional district against Republican Dennis Hastert. During this campaign,Hastert was linked to the 2006 Mark Foley scandal,which Laesch expected to help his campaign. [1] [2] Laesch was considered a member of the Fighting Dems,former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who ran for election to the Congress in 2006. [3] On November 7,Laesch lost in his bid to unseat Hastert,with Hastert winning 59.79% to Laesch's 40.21%. [4]
Laesch ran in the 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election,following Hastert's resignation in 2007. However,he lost the Democratic primary to Bill Foster (who later went on to flip the seat). [5] [6] Laesch ran again in the November 2008 election for the seat,and again lost to Foster in the primary. [7]
Laesch successfully ran for the East Aurora School District 131 board in 2015,winning a four-year term. [8] [9] Laesch did not run for reelection in 2019,leaving office on April 30 of that year. [10]
Laesch ran for mayor of Aurora in 2021,but lost to Richard Irvin. He successfully ran for an at-large seat on Aurora's city council in 2023,defeating incumbent Sherman Jenkins. [11] [12]
In 2025,Laesch again ran for mayor against Irvin. He won the election by about 7 percentage points. [12]
In September 2025,Laesch defied presidential and state government orders to lower flags at all public buildings and grounds,military posts,naval stations,and throughout the United States through September 14th in honor of all victims of political violence. [13] This was after Charlie Kirk had just been assassinated on September 10th. [14]
