Politics
Chicago mayoral hopefuls submit tens of thousands of signatures as 2027 race takes shape
The filing period for Chicago’s 2027 mayoral election opened Monday, with candidates submitting far more than the 12,500 valid signatures required to qualify for the ballot. The extra signatures are intended to withstand challenges, while filing timing can affect candidates’ position on the ballot.
The contest to lead Chicago in 2027 moved into a new phase Monday as mayoral candidates delivered stacks of nominating petitions to the Chicago Board of Elections, beginning a weeklong filing period for the February election.
Candidates for mayor must have at least 12,500 valid signatures to make the ballot. Many submitted two or three times that number, seeking a cushion against challenges that could invalidate some signatures.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said he filed 60,000 signatures, gathered across what he believed was every city ward. He has also reported $19 million in campaign funds at the end of September, leading the field in fundraising.
Lobbyist John Kelly estimated he submitted more than 36,000 signatures. Businessman Willie Wilson said he turned in about 35,000 and plans to challenge every candidate’s petitions. It is Wilson’s fourth self-funded run for mayor.
Matthew Brewer, a commissioner on the Chicago Housing Authority board, said he submitted more than 32,000 signatures. He said he collected many himself at transit stops, neighborhood gatherings and farmers markets, describing a citywide effort to reach voters.
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat representing Chicago, also filed. He argued that campaign wealth alone does not determine who wins, pointing to the top fundraisers in the previous two mayoral contests, who both lost.
Candidates who file first on Monday enter a lottery for the first spot on the ballot. Some may instead wait until the final filing day, Oct. 26, to seek the last position. The filing order can matter in a crowded race, as candidates try to avoid being overlooked among names in the middle of the ballot.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza did not file Monday. Mendoza’s spokesperson said she plans to file on Oct. 26; Johnson’s campaign said he would file after his annual budget address Wednesday.
The mayoral contest is one part of a broad 2027 election. Chicagoans will also elect a city treasurer, city clerk and all 50 members of the City Council. Candidates for treasurer and clerk, as well as alderperson candidates, are filing during the same period. Council candidates need 473 valid signatures, substantially fewer than mayoral hopefuls.
The elections board is scheduled to certify the candidates who qualify for the ballot by Dec. 17. Until then, petition review and possible challenges will determine which contenders make it through the threshold.