The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms. The council is called into session regularly,usually monthly,to consider ordinances,orders,and resolutions whose subject matter includes code changes,utilities,taxes,and many other issues. The Chicago City Council Chambers are located in Chicago City Hall,as are the downtown offices of the individual alderpersons and staff.
Thomas M. Tunney is an American politician and entrepreneur from Chicago,Illinois. From 2003 to 2023,he served as an alderman on the Chicago City Council. He represented the 44th Ward of the city,which includes major tourist destinations,Northalsted and Wrigleyville neighborhoods. He was also vice mayor from 2019 to 2023.
James Cappleman is an American politician and a former member of the Chicago City Council. He was elected to the Council in 2011 as the alderman for the city's 46th ward,which includes parts of the Uptown and Lakeview neighborhoods. He won re-election in 2015 and 2019.
Scott Waguespack is a member of the Chicago City Council,representing the 32nd ward since May 2007. The current 32nd ward includes parts of the neighborhoods of Bucktown,Goose Island,Hamlin Park,Lakeview,Lincoln Park,and Roscoe Village. He is a member of the council's Progressive Reform Caucus,and was the chair during 2015–19. During the 2019–23 term,he was selected as the chair of the Finance Committee.
The 2015 Chicago aldermanic elections happened on February 24,2015,to elect the 50 Aldermen that represent Chicago in the City Council. The elections were non-partisan and if no candidate received an absolute majority,a runoff would be held between the top two finishers on April 7,2015.
Matthew J. O'Shea is the Alderman of the 19th ward of Chicago,serving since 2011.
Raymond Anthony Lopez is an American politician who is currently a member of the Chicago City Council serving as alderman of the 15th Ward in Chicago,Illinois.
John Arena is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party,he represented the 45th ward in the Chicago City Council from 2011 to 2019.
Susan Sadlowski Garza is a member of the Chicago City Council serving as Alderman for the 10th ward. The 10th ward is located on Chicago's southeast side and includes East Side,Hegewisch,Jeffrey Manor,South Chicago and South Deering. She initially assumed office after defeating Rahm Emanuel ally John Pope in the 2015 election. During the 2019–23 term,she was selected to be the chair of the Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus.
Anthony V. Napolitano is the current Alderman for Chicago's 41st ward,located on the Northwest side and including Edison Park,Norwood Park,Oriole Park,O'Hare and Edgebrook.
Chris Taliaferro is a Democratic Alderman representing the 29th ward of the city of Chicago. The 29th ward includes the Austin,Montclare and Galewood areas.
Maria Elaine Hadden is an American politician and community activist from Chicago. She is a member of the Chicago City Council,serving as alderperson for the city's 49th ward. She won election to that office after defeating 28-year incumbent Joe Moore in the 2019 election,and was reelected in 2023. The 49th ward includes most of Rogers Park and portions of West Ridge. She is a member of the Progressive Caucus,Black Caucus,and LGBT Caucus in the City Council.
United Working Families (UWF) is an independent political organization based in Chicago,Illinois. It was formed in 2014 as a coalition between the Chicago Teachers Union,SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana,Grassroots Illinois Action,and Action Now. Although it is not a formal political party,the organization recruits and trains political candidates and organizers,endorses and provides support to political candidates,and engages in community organizing. Its stated goal is to "create space for independent politics" in Chicago and Illinois and to enact a "vision for a city and a state that provides for the many,not just the wealthy few." The organization has been characterized as part of the progressive movement and the labor movement.
Andre Vasquez is a Chicago politician,community organizer,and former rapper. He is the alderman of the city's 40th ward. He won election to that office after defeating incumbent Patrick O'Connor in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic elections. Vasquez is a member of the Chicago chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Byron Sigcho-Lopez is a Chicago politician and community activist. He is the alderman of Chicago's 25th ward,having taken office as a member of the Chicago City Council in May 2019. He won an open race to succeed outgoing alderman Daniel Solis in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election. He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. He was elected as 25th Ward Democratic Committeeperson in 2020.
The Progressive Reform Caucus of the Chicago City Council is a bloc of aldermen in the Chicago City Council that was formed in 2013. Its stated mission statement is "creating a more just and equal Chicago,combating all forms of discrimination,and advancing public policies that offer genuine opportunity to all Chicagoans,especially those who have been left out of our society’s prosperity." As of the 2023–27 term,it had 19 members,out of the council's 50 aldermen.
The LGBT Caucus of the Chicago City Council is a bloc of aldermen in the Chicago City Council that was formed in 2015,to focus on issues affecting the lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender communities. As of 2023,the caucus consists of 9 members,out of the council's 50 aldermen.
James M. Gardiner is a Chicago politician and firefighter who serves as the alderman for the 45th ward in the Chicago City Council. Elected to the Chicago City Council in 2019,Gardiner identified as a political independent;however,he would later switch to the Democratic Party and currently serves as the 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson.
Derrick G. Curtis is an American politician who has served as the alderman of Chicago's 18th ward since 2015. He became the Democratic committeeman of the ward in 2011 after Lona Lane stepped down from that position. Curtis had previously been the ward's Streets and Sanitation superintendent,with more than 25 years of experience as a precinct captain. He ran against Lane in the 2015 aldermanic race and defeated her in a runoff. He was sworn into office on May 18,2015.
The 2023 Chicago mayoral election was held on February 28,2023,to elect the mayor of Chicago,Illinois. With no candidate receiving a majority of votes in the initial round of the election,a runoff election was held on April 4. This two-round election took place alongside other 2023 Chicago elections,including races for City Council,city clerk,city treasurer,and police district councils. The election was officially nonpartisan,with winner Brandon Johnson being elected to a four-year term which began on May 15.
