Chicago Mayor’s Race Update: Mendoza Makes Her Case, Stanton Out, Wilson In

Photo Credit: Robert Loerzel

Latest updates to the 2027 Chicago Mayor's race!

Chicago Mayoral Race 2027: Alexi Giannoulias is in

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.

Chicago Mayoral Race 2027: Updated Candidate List (July 31, 2026)

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.

Chicago Mayoral Race 2027 Update: John Kelly Joins the Field

 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]

Chicago Mayoral Race 2027: Updated Who's In?

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.

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.