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| Credit: WBBM-AM |
I didn't plan to do this so soon but here we go. Sharing this to note one potential candidate is instead running for re-election to the Chicago City Council. Let's go over this list together. And as noted just yesterday lobbyist John Kelly is running for mayor.
Petition circulation for the February 23, 2027 Chicago mayoral election officially began this week. The field continues to grow.
CBS Chicago has the story regarding circulating petitions [VIDEO]
I was on Amtrak’s City of New Orleans yesterday and looked to my left and saw some of the construction for the Red Line Extension. I was riding the former Illinois Central tracks — the same corridor many of us know as the Metra Electric line (you can see the electric wires above in the photo).
The pillars going up are part of the extension that will run southeast from about 115th & Michigan along the Union Pacific Railroad, where the next-to-last stop is planned. From there the Red Line will continue southeast to 130th Street, right in the vicinity of Altgeld Gardens.
Construction is also moving along at other points on the project, including the work starting from the current 95th/Dan Ryan terminal.
What’s your experience with the Red Line Extension so far? Are you seeing progress near your block, dealing with construction impacts, or still waiting to feel any benefit? Drop your observations in the comments.
The 2027 Chicago mayoral election is shaping up to be one of the most crowded in recent memory. With Election Day set for February 23, 2027 (and a potential runoff on April 6), the field of challengers to incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to grow. Petitions can begin circulating as early as July 28, 2026, and the race remains fluid.
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| Source: ABC7Chicago |
For residents of Chicago’s 9th Ward and the broader South Side, this contest matters deeply. We need leaders who will prioritize reliable transit (like Red and Green Line service to downtown jobs), safer streets, affordable housing that preserves long-time homeowners, equitable school resources, and economic development that actually reaches our neighborhoods instead of stopping at downtown or the lakefront. At the same time, the next mayor must tackle city-wide challenges that affect every Chicagoan — from structural budget deficits to system-wide transit reliability and government efficiency.
Here’s the latest breakdown of who has officially announced and who remains rumored or potential as of early July 2026.
