Ilstrup, who has led the member-based nonprofit for nearly nine years, said he has heard residents' concerns across the city and is pitching a platform centered on expanding housing, making transportation faster and more convenient, and investing in every neighborhood.

"Most importantly, I'm going to be Madison's biggest fan. Out loud, proud every single day, everywhere I go," Ilstrup said in announcing his bid.

Downtown Madison Inc. works to improve quality of life in the city's core, according to its website. Under Ilstrup's leadership, the organization has been a prominent voice on downtown development, events, and business issues.

Ilstrup brings a background in hotel management and development to the race. He is a graduate of Boston University and the University of Minnesota Law School, and he said he has served on the Neighborhood House Community Center board for 10 years.

The announcement comes as the mayor's office is up for grabs. The incumbent mayor has said she will not seek reelection, citing harassment and threats. That decision has drawn multiple candidates into the race, with Ilstrup joining a long list of others who have filed declarations of candidacy.

For voters, the contest will test competing visions for a city grappling with housing affordability, transportation access, and the balance between downtown interests and neighborhood needs. Ilstrup's nearly decade-long tenure at the helm of a downtown business group is likely to be both an asset and a line of scrutiny, as residents weigh his ties to the city's commercial core against his pledge to invest in every part of Madison.

Ilstrup framed his candidacy around visibility and advocacy, promising to champion the city and its residents at every turn. His campaign's early priorities—housing, transit, and neighborhood investment—signal that those issues will dominate the mayoral debate in the months ahead.