Chicago Mayoral Race Update: Petitions, Polls, and the Field

Photo Credit: Robert Loerzel

Petition filing for the February 23, 2027 Chicago mayoral election opened this morning. Candidates need at least 12,500 valid signatures; the deadline is October 26. After that, signature challenges are expected to narrow the field.

First-day filers so far (self-reported signature counts):

• Alexi Giannoulias — ~60,000
• Mike Quigley — ~42,000
• John Kelly — ~37,000
• Matt Brewer — ~32,000
• Willie Wilson — ~30,000

Mayor Brandon Johnson and several others have not filed yet. They still have until the 26th.

A new Mansueto Institute/NORC poll (conducted mid-September, released today) shows Johnson with 22% job approval and 53% disapproval. Among likely voters, Giannoulias leads with roughly 25% support; Johnson is at 14%. No other candidate is in double digits. About 55% of likely voters say they are not enthused about Johnson running again.

Fundraising (as of the end of September):

• Giannoulias: ~$19.2 million on hand
• John Kelly: $2.5 million
• Susana Mendoza: $1.7 million
• Joe Holberg: just over $1 million
• Johnson: ~$379,000

All Declared Candidates

These candidates have publicly announced they are running for mayor:

Higher-profile

• Brandon Johnson — Incumbent mayor (announced Sept. 13)
• Alexi Giannoulias — Illinois Secretary of State (announced Aug. 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 and philanthropist (fourth mayoral run)
• John Kelly — Lobbyist and businessman
• Joe Holberg — Entrepreneur / former teacher (first to enter, Oct. 2025)
• Dr. Lisa Nee — Cardiologist
• Maria Pappas — Cook County Treasurer (has said she plans to run; campaign expected after the November treasurer election)

Lower-profile

• Danielle Carter-Walters (co-founder of Chicago Flips Red; small-business owner)
• LaTonia “Toni” Brooks (U.S. Army National Guard veteran)
• Zoe Ma (real estate developer and property manager)
• Jessica “Jesse” Maronto (Chicago Department of Transportation traffic signal repair worker)
• Jabari Taylor (health policy researcher, University of Illinois Chicago)
• Johnny Logalbo (addiction recovery counselor; previous write-in candidate)
• Mark Su (businessman)
• William “Bill” Quinlan (attorney — announced a candidacy and filed a lawsuit challenging the dual candidacies of Giannoulias, Quigley, and Pappas; the suit was dismissed as premature)

A few other names (including Johnny Logalbo and Mark Su) have been listed in some trackers as having declared. The final ballot will depend on who files by October 26 and who survives signature challenges.

The election is February 23, 2027. If no one gets a majority, the runoff is April 6.