Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias officially joined the 2027 Chicago mayoral race on Sunday in an exclusive interview with NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern. He announced his candidacy while criticizing Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration for failing to “meet the moment,” citing high staff turnover, credit-rating problems, and difficulty advancing an agenda through City Council and Springfield. Giannoulias positioned himself as a coalition-builder who can work across labor, business, and neighborhood lines, and outlined priorities that include hiring more police officers, restoring ShotSpotter, and handling under-enrolled schools through community-driven processes rather than abrupt top-down closures.
In the interview, Giannoulias was clear in his opposition to President Trump, calling him dangerous to the world order and pointing to his own record of resisting Trump administration policies, including limits on ICE access to Illinois driver data. At the same time, he said he would still meet with Trump, framing it as a practical necessity: a mayor has to be willing to engage when the city’s interests — federal funding, public safety resources, or other issues affecting neighborhoods like the 9th Ward — are on the line.
You can watch the interview here: [VIDEO]
Here's an announcment video he posted to Twitter...errrr sorry X.com this morning
Chicago is the best city in the world and I believe we can build something that’s better than anything we’ve experienced before. That’s why I’m running for Chicago Mayor.
— Alexi Giannoulias (@Giannoulias) August 2, 2026
If you believe in this vision, get involved.
Join the Team: https://t.co/qxWy0RtR8M pic.twitter.com/5o9Q2FEjtD
All Declared Candidates (as of August 2, 2026)
Major Candidates
- Joe Holberg – Businessman and former financial firm founder (announced October 6, 2025)
- Liam Stanton – Small business owner, Rogers Park native (announced February 22, 2026)
- Susana Mendoza – Illinois Comptroller (announced June 3, 2026)
- George Cardenas – Cook County Board of Review Commissioner and former 12th Ward alderman (announced June 16, 2026)
- Matt Brewer – Former Chicago Housing Authority operating chair (announced June 25, 2026)
- Mike Quigley – U.S. Representative, 5th Congressional District (announced June 27, 2026)
- Alexi Giannoulias – Illinois Secretary of State (announced August 2, 2026)
Other Declared Candidates
- LaTonia “Toni” Brooks – Non-profit executive and organizer
- Danielle Carter-Walters – Business owner, retired police officer, co-founder of Chicago Flips Red
- John Kelly – Lobbyist
- Johnny Logalbo – Addiction recovery counselor
- Lisa Nee – Former cardiologist (announced July 7, 2026)
Mayor Brandon Johnson has not yet formally declared whether he will seek a second term. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has indicated she intends to run but plans to wait until after the November 2026 elections to launch.
This blog will continue tracking new announcements as they develop. More candidates may still enter the field before the petition deadline, and we will update the list and coverage accordingly.
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