Petition challenges are something of a tradition in Chicago city elections. Still, I find it odd that the incumbent mayor’s petitions are being challenged. To be honest, given how chaotic his administration has been, it’s not a huge surprise that he may not have enough valid signatures.
I first saw coverage of this from The Daily Caller via this Instagram post. Local reporting fills in the details.
Dr. Willie Wilson’s campaign (via former state Sen. Rickey Hendon) challenged Mayor Brandon Johnson’s nominating petitions. From FOX 32:
Dr. Willie Wilson’s campaign says its review found irregularities that it believes violate election law, including petition sheets bearing the name of Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and dozens of allegedly duplicated sheets.
The campaign estimates that only about 5,000 signatures are valid. Candidates need 12,500 signatures to make the ballot.
“There is a process to become a candidate for Mayor of Chicago, and everyone should be required to follow that process,” Wilson said in a statement. “Our review has identified serious irregularities that deserve a thorough examination. Election laws must be applied fairly and consistently to every candidate, regardless of who they are or what office they currently hold.”
Wilson’s campaign is calling on election officials to examine the disputed sheets and determine whether Johnson submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
From WBBM / CBS Chicago (yesterday):
Two hearings on challenges to Johnson’s petitions ended without a ruling on Monday. Johnson’s attorney said he plans to file a motion in the case on Tuesday, and the hearing officer assigned to the challenges scheduled a conference call for Wednesday.
One challenge to Johnson’s signatures comes from Willie Wilson’s campaign, which alleges some of the signatures the mayor turned in were photocopies. Wilson’s campaign says Johnson’s petitions also include several pages of signatures on petitions for City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin.
Another challenge filed against Johnson accuses him of filing fraudulent signatures.
“He should be disqualified, because he is the city mayor, he has been through this procedure before, he knows what the procedure is,” objector Jessica Jackson said.
Also from the same reporting:
Johnson’s attorney has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file his motion. Responses are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The conference call scheduled for Wednesday will help determine when the hearing officer will take up both of the challenges to Johnson’s nominating petitions.
There are other petition challenges for other mayoral candidates. The Board of Elections has a large number of cases to work through before the ballot is certified in mid-December for the February 23, 2027 municipal election. For residents across the city—including in the 9th Ward—this process helps determine who actually ends up on the ballot voters will see.
However, what caught my eye is that the petition signatures for the incumbent mayor had been challenged.
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