Filing closes in Chicago's 2027 mayoral race with more than a dozen candidates challenging Johnson

The filing period for Chicago’s 2027 mayoral election closed Monday, with more than a dozen candidates submitting nominating petitions to challenge Mayor Brandon Johnson.^{1, 2, 3} The Chicago Sun-Times counted 14 candidates in all, Johnson included.¹

The election is Feb. 23, and if no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers advance to a runoff on April 6.^{2, 3} All 50 City Council seats are also on the ballot.³

Who filed

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas were among those who filed on the final day, the Sun-Times reported.¹ So did Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas, a former 12th Ward alderman; businessman Joe Holberg; cardiologist Lisa Nee; attorney Bill Quinlan; conservative activist Danielle Carter-Walters; and Zoe Ma, a former real estate developer.^{1, 2}

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, lobbyist John Kelly, former Chicago Housing Authority board chair Matt Brewer and businessman Willie Wilson filed at the start of the filing period, according to the Sun-Times.¹ Block Club Chicago also listed John Kitover among those who submitted petitions.²

Johnson, who is seeking a second term, filed on Friday.^{1, 2} He said he turned in 33,000 signatures, a figure the Sun-Times called relatively low for an incumbent.¹ Pappas, who is up for reelection as treasurer on Nov. 3, has not formally announced her campaign and plans to do so after that election, Block Club reported.²

Two people who had been running are out: Jessica Maronto said her petitions would fall short, and Liam Stanton dropped out in August and endorsed Giannoulias, according to Block Club.²

Challenges ahead

Each candidate needs 12,500 valid signatures from registered Chicago voters to stay on the ballot.^{1, 2} Objections to petitions can be filed through Nov. 2, and the Chicago Board of Elections will certify the final ballot on Dec. 17, the Sun-Times reported.^{1, 2} Campaign managers and political operatives expect challenges to remove some candidates.¹

Giannoulias’ campaign manager, Hana Jubeh, said he plans to review every rival’s petitions and challenge weak ones.¹ “Everyone is gonna be held to that scrutiny,” Jubeh told the Sun-Times.¹

Five candidates who filed within an hour of the deadline, Pappas, Cardenas, Holberg, Carter-Walters and Ma, enter a lottery for the last spot on the ballot, the paper reported.¹

The money

Giannoulias reported more than $19 million on hand in September, according to Block Club.² FOX 32 reported he had nearly $20 million as of Oct. 1.³ A University of Chicago Mansueto Institute poll found 22% of respondents approved of Johnson’s handling of the job, FOX 32 reported.³