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Chicago's crowded mayoral field heads to petition challenges

Chicago's crowded mayoral field heads to petition challenges

Rule Changes Chicago, IL local

Fourteen candidates seek to deny Brandon Johnson a second term, but signature fights may decide who reaches the Feb. 23 ballot.

Today: Final-day filings bring total to 14

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Fourteen candidates filed to run for Chicago mayor by Monday's deadline, each submitting the 12,500 valid signatures required for a spot on the Feb. 23 ballot. The contest now shifts to petition challenges, where rivals scrutinize those signatures line by line — the stage of Chicago elections where races have been won and lost without a single vote.

Incumbent Brandon Johnson, who filed 33,000 signatures Friday, faces approval ratings near 31% and a deep fundraising gap. Presumed front-runner Alexi Giannoulias has $19.3 million and says he will challenge shaky petitions, raising the possibility that the crowded field shrinks dramatically before voters weigh in.

Why it matters

Chicago's next mayor will set tax, police and housing policy for four years — but ballot challenges may decide who gets to run for the job.

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Key Indicators

14
candidates who filed for mayor
Sun-Times count; WTTW lists 16 total filers. Field expected to shrink during challenges.
12,500
valid signatures required per candidate
Candidates submitted 26,000 to 60,000 signatures, but challenges can invalidate many.
33,000
signatures Johnson filed
Low for an incumbent; Richard M. Daley once filed more than 100,000 with ward organization help.
$19.3M
Giannoulias campaign war chest
Presumed front-runner plans to use it to challenge rivals whose signatures look shaky.
31%
Johnson's approval rating
Incumbent remains below the threshold typically needed for re-election.

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People Involved

Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson
Incumbent mayor of Chicago, seeking a second term
Filed 33,000 signatures on Oct. 23; faces low approval and fundraising gap
 Alexi Giannoulias
Alexi Giannoulias
Illinois Secretary of State, presumed front-runner
Filed roughly 60,000 signatures; plans to challenge rivals' petitions
 Susana Mendoza
Susana Mendoza
Illinois Comptroller (retiring), former 2019 mayoral candidate
Filed 26,000 signatures Oct. 26, the fewest of the major candidates
 Maria Pappas
Maria Pappas
Cook County Treasurer, mayoral candidate
Filed nearly 40,000 signatures Oct. 26
 Lisa Nee
Lisa Nee
Cardiologist, political newcomer
Filed 31,000 signatures in her first campaign
 Willie Wilson
Willie Wilson
Businessman, four-time mayoral candidate
Filed first-day petitions; expects to be challenged

Organizations Involved

CB
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
Local Election Authority
Receives petitions, adjudicates challenges, certifies final ballot

The city's election authority, responsible for verifying petition signatures and certifying the mayoral ballot.

Timeline

October 2025 February 2027

11 events Latest: Today Showing 8 of 11
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Election day

    Upcoming Election

    Voters go to the polls; runoff scheduled for April 6 if no candidate reaches 50% plus one.

  2. Ballot certification deadline

    Upcoming Legal

    Chicago Board of Election Commissioners certifies the final mayoral ballot after resolving challenges.

  3. Petition challenge period opens

    Upcoming Legal

    Candidates may file objections to rivals' signatures; all objections due Nov. 2.

  4. Final-day filings bring total to 14

    Today Milestone

    Mendoza, Pappas, Nee, Cardenas and others file on the last day, completing the candidate field.

  5. Johnson files for reelection

    Milestone

    Incumbent Brandon Johnson files 33,000 signatures, skipping the lottery for the top ballot spot.

  6. First-day filings

    Milestone

    Giannoulias, Quigley, Wilson, Kelly and Brewer file signatures on opening day; Giannoulias turns in about 60,000.

  7. Brewer joins after CHA ouster

    Announcement

    Former Chicago Housing Authority chair Matt Brewer announces his bid after Johnson ousted him.

  8. Cardenas announces bid

    Announcement

    Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas enters the mayoral field.

  9. Mendoza enters the race

    Announcement

    Comptroller Susana Mendoza announces her candidacy, running to Johnson's right on crime.

  10. Quigley announces intent to run

    Announcement

    U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley announces he will seek the mayor's office, promising a pro-business agenda.

  11. Holberg first into the race

    Announcement

    Entrepreneur Joe Holberg becomes the first candidate to formally enter the mayor's race.

Scenarios

1

Giannoulias Elected Mayor of Chicago

Likely Resolves by Apr 6, 2027

Discussed by: Chicago Sun-Times; campaign operatives including Hana Jubeh and Victor Reyes, who expect Giannoulias to narrow the field for a first-round win

Giannoulias's $19.3 million war chest and polling lead let him win outright Feb. 23 or survive the April 6 runoff. He plans to use petition challenges to target Quigley and north lakefront rivals, consolidating the vote-rich areas where Johnson sealed his 2023 victory.

2

Mendoza or Another Challenger Wins the Runoff

Possible Resolves by Apr 6, 2027

Discussed by: Early polling showing Mendoza and Giannoulias leading; WTTW coverage of union endorsements breaking against Johnson

If Giannoulias's petition challenges fail or backfire, voters split the vote and force a runoff between two challengers. Mendoza's centrist, tough-on-crime positioning and her targeting of police and firefighter wards give her a distinct base, while Quigley or Pappas could consolidate the north lakefront.

3

Johnson Defies Polls, Wins Second Term

Unlikely Resolves by Apr 6, 2027

Discussed by: Johnson's campaign; his 2023 comeback as a runoff underdog; New York Times noted his difficult path but did not rule out a win

Despite approval near 31% and a fundraising gap, Johnson could benefit from a divided opposition or petition challenges removing his strongest rivals. A runoff consolidating progressive support — the same coalition that elected him in 2023 — could deliver another narrow win.

4

Petition Challenge Knocks a Major Candidate Off the Ballot

Likely Resolves by Dec 17, 2026

Discussed by: Chicago Sun-Times reporting that campaign managers and veteran operatives expect the field to shrink; Wilson operative Ricky Hendon; Giannoulias campaign manager Hana Jubeh

The challenge period (Oct. 27-Nov. 2) lets any candidate object to rivals' signatures. With the threshold at 12,500 valid signatures, candidates who filed 26,000-31,000 — Mendoza, Nee, Cardenas — could lose enough on line-by-line review to be removed. Giannoulias is expected to target Quigley and others drawing from the north lakefront.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1995-1996

Obama unseats Alice Palmer via petition challenge (1995-1996)

In 1995, state Sen. Alice Palmer planned to run for Congress, freeing her state Senate seat for Barack Obama, then a young lawyer. When Palmer's congressional bid failed and she tried to reclaim her seat, Obama challenged the validity of her nominating petitions. He succeeded, and Palmer was removed from the ballot, leaving Obama to win the seat unopposed.

Then

Obama took the Senate seat in January 1997 without facing Palmer in the primary.

Now

The petition victory launched Obama's political career, eventually leading to the presidency.

Why this matters now

It remains Chicago's most famous example of a race decided by signature challenges — the tactic every 2027 campaign is now preparing for.

February-April 2019

2019 Chicago mayoral election (February-April 2019)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel declined to seek a third term, opening a 14-candidate free-for-all. Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle finished atop the Feb. 26 first round and faced an April 2 runoff, which Lightfoot won with about 74% of the vote — becoming the first Black woman and first openly gay person to lead Chicago.

Then

Lightfoot took office promising reform but faced a city fiscal crisis and police scandals.

Now

She lost re-election in 2023 after one term, illustrating Chicago's quick turnover of mayors.

Why this matters now

A crowded, open field can produce runoff finalists nobody expected — a plausible 2027 outcome if challenges don't narrow the field.

February-April 2023

2023 Chicago mayoral election (February-April 2023)

In a crime-focused race, Brandon Johnson — a progressive organizer and Cook County commissioner backed by the teachers union — advanced from a nine-candidate first round to face Paul Vallas in the runoff. Johnson won with about 52%, a narrow margin that surprised many after Vallas led the first round.

Then

Johnson became mayor, moving City Hall left on taxes and housing policy.

Now

His term has seen approval ratings near 31%, leaving him vulnerable in 2027.

Why this matters now

Johnson won as an underdog through a runoff; the same path could carry him to a second term or hand challengers the opening to unseat him.

Sources

(4)
Chicago Sun-Times WTTW News ABC7 Chicago Wikipedia