Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Sunday that he is running for a second term. He posted a campaign video and is holding a launch event at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
Watch Johnson’s announcement video:
Four years ago, we promised to build the safest most affordable city in America by investing in people. Together we’ve made progress on delivering a better, stronger, and safer Chicago and our work is not done. Join us! pic.twitter.com/wopmJcP4gw
— Brandon Johnson (@Brandon4Chicago) September 13, 2026
In the video he says the city is “just getting started,” and he frames a second term around affordability, public safety, housing, mental health clinics, a pause on new data centers, and higher taxes on higher-income residents.
Political reporter Brandon Pope was on FOX 32's Chicago Morning News talking about Mayor Johnson's announcement and his current tough polling numbers. With that said, Pope mentions that the Mayor is still popular among Black voters. [VIDEO]
The election is February 23, 2027, with a possible runoff on April 6. Petitions are due in late October.
Higher-profile announced candidates
- Brandon Johnson – Incumbent mayor
- Alexi Giannoulias – Illinois Secretary of State (announced August 2)
- Susana Mendoza – Illinois Comptroller
- Mike Quigley – U.S. Representative
- George Cardenas – Cook County Board of Review commissioner / former 12th Ward alderman
- Matt Brewer – Former CHA operating chair
- Willie Wilson – Businessman / philanthropist
- John Kelly – Lobbyist / businessman
- Joe Holberg – Entrepreneur / former teacher
- Dr. Lisa Nee – Cardiologist
- Maria Pappas – Cook County Treasurer (has said she plans to run)
Lower-profile announced candidates
Among the lower-profile candidates, Joe Holberg was first in (October 2025). Danielle Carter-Walters and Dr. Lisa Nee announced in July. The newest name in this group is Zoe Ma, who launched Sept. 1 in Bronzeville. Toni Brooks, Jesse Maronto, and Jabari Taylor have been campaigning through the summer; their exact announcement days have gotten less coverage than the bigger names.
Toni Brooks
Chicago-born U.S. Army National Guard veteran. She talks about rebuilding neighborhoods “block by block,” public safety, and a large “Citizen Responder” volunteer network. She has also talked about reallocating city funds and donating most of a first-year mayor’s salary to a community fund. WTTW and CBS have both interviewed her.
Zoe Ma
Real estate developer and property manager who launched in Bronzeville. She has lived in Chicago for decades after immigrating from China. Campaign themes include poverty, inequality, budget transparency, property-tax reform, affordable housing, and a guaranteed-income program. Coverage has described her as running as an independent progressive. Website: zoemaformayor.com.
Jessica “Jesse” Maronto
Chicago Department of Transportation traffic signal repair worker, IBEW member, lives in the Loop. Her “No Poli-Tricks” pitch includes keeping 311 requests open until they are actually fixed, weekly pay for lower-paid city workers, teen safe spaces, and food-desert partnerships.
Jabari Taylor
South Side native and health-policy researcher at UIC (Curie High School / SIU / UIC). Focus: green social housing, an “affordable public opt-in insurance” pilot, and education-to-work pathways so younger Chicagoans can stay in the city.
Danielle Carter-Walters
Chicago native, small-business owner, co-founder of Chicago Flips Red, married to a retired CPD officer. Campaign site: dannicformayor.com. She emphasizes public safety, taxes, schools, and “Chicagoans first.”
The field is still large and can change before the late-October filing deadline. More names may qualify; some of the lower-profile campaigns are still building name recognition.
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