Candidates turn out in last day for signatures

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Sixteen candidates, including Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, have submitted petitions to appear on Chicago’s 2027 mayoral ballot, with signature counts ranging from just above the required minimum to over 60,000. The diverse and crowded field sets the stage for a competitive race, with the possibility of petition challenges by November 2 and a runoff election if no candidate wins a majority in February.

Chicago’s 2027 mayoral race took a significant step forward Monday as the final group of candidates submitted their nominating petitions to secure a place on the ballot. A total of 16 candidates are now vying for the city’s highest office, with signature filings completed amid a mix of personal expressions and strategic positioning.

Among the late comers was Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who arrived carrying a cooler filled with homemade tamales and a spork, symbolizing her campaign’s emphasis on practicality and connection to everyday residents. Mendoza submitted over 26,000 signatures, just above the minimum threshold of 12,500 needed for ballot access, and stressed quality over quantity in her filing. “That’s how I’m going to run this city,” she said. Mendoza declined to specify whether she planned to challenge rival candidates’ signatures but left the possibility open.

Also turning in petitions Monday, cardiologist Dr. Lisa Nee submitted 31,000 signatures, while attorney William Quinlan filed 26,000. Quinlan, a former general counsel to ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich, emphasized his outsider status despite his political ties and called for reform of the current petition system. He described the signature-gathering process as “broken” and designed to favor establishment candidates but said he and Nee would not challenge other campaigns’ petitions.

Earlier filings included Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who submitted approximately 60,000 signatures, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley with 42,000, lobbyist John Kelly at 36,000, incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson at 33,000, Chicago Housing Authority Commissioner Matt Brewer at 32,000, and businessman Willie Wilson with 30,000.

Among the other Monday filers, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas turned in nearly 40,000 signatures, while candidates Holberg and Cardenas submitted 32,000 and 31,500 respectively. Candidate Ma described herself as the city’s first Chinese American, Muslim, and naturalized mayoral contender, submitting 17,000 signatures. Chrystal Carter-Walters, the only candidate openly supporting former President Donald Trump, submitted just over 13,000, placing her near the threshold and potentially vulnerable to challenges.

Carter-Walters warned that if other campaigns challenge her signatures, she would respond in kind, suggesting skepticism about the authenticity of rivals’ petition sheets. However, most candidates indicated no intentions to contest others’ filings. The deadline for objections is November 2.

The city’s full 2027 election will also include all 50 aldermanic seats, along with the city clerk and treasurer races. If no mayoral candidate obtains a majority in the February 23 election, the top two vote-getters will face off in a runoff scheduled for April 6.

The final stretch of nominating petition submissions featured expressions of individual campaign identities, such as Pappas’s T-shirt slogan “No biceps, just brains,” a direct nod to Giannoulias. Overall, the filings underscored a crowded and diverse field reflecting a mixture of political experience and outsider appeals as the contest for Chicago’s mayoralty gears up.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.