Voter guide · Feb 23, 2027
Chicago Mayor Election 2027
The mayor's office is on the ballot, with 16 candidates running. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seat- Matt BrewerLawyer, small-business owner and former CEO and board chair of the Chicago Housing Authority. He served the Chicago Housing Authority for 13 years as a commissioner, then CEO and board chair, overseeing a $1.4 billion budget.11sourced
- George A. CardenasCook County Board of Review commissioner who represented Chicago's 12th Ward on the City Council for 20 years. A U.S. Navy veteran, he worked in accounting, auditing, strategic sourcing and management consulting.16sourced
- Danielle Carter-WaltersChicago native and small business owner. She is running to restore safety, accountability, affordability, and opportunity.7sourced
- Alexi GiannouliasIllinois Secretary of State and former Illinois State Treasurer. Says he modernized services and cut wait times as Secretary of State.14sourced
- Joe HolbergFounder of Spring, a financial wellness company, and former math teacher on Chicago’s West Side. Also built computer science education tools at Google.9sourced
- Brandon JohnsonIncumbent57th Mayor of Chicago, sworn in May 15, 2023, and a former Chicago public school teacher. Before becoming mayor, he was an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union and was elected Cook County Commissioner of the 1st District in 2018.18sourced
- John KellyGovernment affairs lobbyist who helped build All-Circo, a Chicago-based government affairs firm. Previously worked for the Illinois Attorney General’s office and served on the board of directors of Lakeside Bank.9sourced
- John KitoverFormer Internal Revenue Service project and facilities management employee and Army National Guard veteran.3sourced
- Zoe X. MaReal estate developer and property manager with a master's and an MBA from UIC. She has worked for nonprofits and in the business sector.5sourced
- Jessica "Jesse" MarontoChicago Department of Transportation traffic signal repairer and IBEW Local 9 member with an MBA. She is vice chair of the Disability Forward CHI Employee Resource Group.7sourced
- Susana A. MendozaIllinois Comptroller, former Chicago City Clerk and former six-term Illinois state representative. As City Clerk, moved city vehicle stickers to year-round sales.16sourced
- Lisa NeeInterventional cardiologist and former nurse who later earned an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School. She has advised healthcare organizations and worked to improve access to care.7sourced
- Maria PappasCook County Treasurer since 1998 and former Cook County Board commissioner. Her office collects property taxes and distributes the revenue to local governments.9sourced
- Mike QuigleyU.S. Representative for Illinois' 5th District since 2009 and a former Cook County Commissioner. He began his career through community service in the Lakeview neighborhood.14sourced
- William J. QuinlanChicago attorney who chairs the board of Lawrence Hall, a social service agency for children and youth. Has also served as Chair of the Local School Council at Lincoln Park High School.7sourced
- Willie L. WilsonEntrepreneur, McDonald’s franchisee and gospel television host, as described on his campaign website.8sourced
Every Chicago voter picks one candidate for mayor; a candidate with a majority wins outright, otherwise the top two meet in an April 6, 2027 runoff.
What the next council decides
01City budget and taxes4 sourced facts
Where it standsMayor Brandon Johnson has proposed a $17.6 billion 2027 budget to close a projected $882 million gap; the City Council must approve a budget.
What's on the tableWhether to close future gaps mainly with new taxes on large businesses, spending cuts, borrowing or property taxes.
- The city projected a $882.4 million budget gap for 2027, after closing a $1.2 billion gap for 2026. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 3, 2026
- Johnson's 2027 proposal includes $664.2 million in new and increased taxes and $119.8 million in spending cuts. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026
- The proposal includes a corporate head tax; 29 alderpersons have vowed to reject it, a year after a 31-member coalition rejected the mayor's earlier head tax. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026
- The proposal would borrow $480 million to cover settlements tied to allegations of police abuse. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026
02Pensions3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city owes a $2.97 billion pension payment required by state law in 2027 and plans a $364 million supplemental payment on top of it.
What's on the tableHow much to pay into the city's pension funds beyond the legal minimum, and where that money comes from.
- The city plans a $364 million supplemental pension payment on top of the $2.97 billion payment required by state law. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 3, 2026
- Johnson tried to cut the 2026 supplemental pension payment to $121 million but was blocked by opposition Council members. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 3, 2026
- Finance Chair Pat Dowell said the Council wants a $75 million parking-meter deal payment used as an extra pension payment toward the city's $36 billion pension crisis. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026
03Public safety and policing2 sourced facts
Where it standsJohnson's 2027 budget proposal freezes hundreds of police vacancies and turns more than 130 police jobs into civilian jobs.
What's on the tableHow many police officers to fund and how to split public safety money between policing and other programs.
- Johnson's 2027 budget proposal would freeze hundreds of police vacancies and civilianize more than 130 police jobs. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026
- The city estimates about $400 million in legal settlements for 2027, largely for police misconduct cases, its largest new cost driver. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 3, 2026
04Immigration enforcement3 sourced facts
Where it standsChicago's Welcoming City ordinance limits police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and a 2025 executive order bars federal agents from using city property for civil immigration enforcement.
What's on the tableWhether to keep, expand or roll back the city's limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
- In January 2021 the City Council voted 41-8 to eliminate exemptions in the Welcoming City Ordinance that had let police cooperate with federal immigration authorities in limited cases. CBS News Chicago · Jan 27, 2021
- In January 2025, 39 alderpersons voted to table a proposal to change the Welcoming City ordinance. ABC7 Chicago · Jan 15, 2025
- In October 2025 Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order barring federal agencies from using city property for civil immigration enforcement. CBS News Chicago · Oct 6, 2025
5 notes on these statements
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners lists 16 people who filed nominating petitions for mayor (status as of Oct. 30, 2026); the board says the list will be updated if filings change. Chicago Board of Election Commissioners · Oct 30, 2026
Mayoral candidates need 12,500 valid signatures; objections to petitions are due Nov. 2, 2026, and the election board is scheduled to certify the ballot by Dec. 17, 2026. CBS News Chicago · Oct 27, 2026
NBC Chicago reported on Oct. 29, 2026 that Brandon Johnson's nominating petitions could be challenged by at least one rival candidate. NBC Chicago · Oct 29, 2026
NBC Chicago reported that Danielle Carter-Walters filed 13,500 signatures and may face a challenge to her petitions. NBC Chicago · Oct 29, 2026
Jessica "Jesse" Maronto told NBC Chicago she will mount a write-in campaign because she did not reach the 12,500-signature threshold. NBC Chicago · Oct 29, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Should Chicago charge large employers a monthly tax per employee to help balance the budget?
2. Should the city freeze its property tax levy?
3. How should Chicago handle police staffing?
4. Should Chicago bring back ShotSpotter-style gunshot detection?
Key dates
- Last day to file objections to candidates' nominating petitionsChicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026Nov 2, 2026
- Election board certifies the candidates on the ballotChicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026Dec 17, 2026
- Earliest day early voting may beginChicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026Jan 14, 2027
- Last day for regular voter registration (grace-period registration continues in person)Chicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026Jan 26, 2027
- Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)Chicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026Feb 23, 2027
- Runoff election, if no mayoral candidate wins a majorityChicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026Apr 6, 2027
The seat math
0 stay (not up this year): 1 on this ballot
50 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 26-vote majority.
- The City Council consists of the Mayor, the City Clerk and alderpersons elected from each of the 50 wards to four-year terms. Office of the City Clerk
- The Mayor presides over City Council meetings and may vote only in certain instances, for example to break a tie. Office of the City Clerk
- The Mayor submits the city's annual budget and appoints city officers, department heads and members of city boards and commissions. Office of the City Clerk
- The Mayor may veto an ordinance the City Council passes; the Council can override a veto by a two-thirds vote of its members. Office of the City Clerk
- If no mayoral candidate wins a majority of the votes on February 23, 2027, the top two candidates meet in a runoff on April 6, 2027. Chicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026
- The Mayor serves a four-year term beginning at noon on the third Monday in May after the election. Chicago Board of Election Commissioners · Jul 28, 2026
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