Mayoral Hopefuls File Petitions for February Ballot as Alders Stall Johnson Nominees
Candidates began filing nominating petitions for Chicago's February mayoral election on Monday while Mayor Brandon Johnson faced resistance from City Council members over key appointments and the 2027 budget.
- by Rosa Delgado
The race for Chicago mayor accelerated on Monday as candidates brought stacks of nominating petitions to the elections board to qualify for the February ballot, according to reports from ABC7 Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times. WTTW News reported that Giannoulias, Quigley, and Wilson were among the first candidates to file their signatures ahead of the February mayoral election, while Johnson was not among the initial filers. Alongside the municipal petition filings, ABC7 Chicago reported that early voting for the 2026 elections is expanding across Chicago wards and Cook County suburbs.
As the election season gets underway, Mayor Brandon Johnson is encountering pushback in the City Council over both appointments and financial plans. According to WGN-TV, Chicago alders stalled Johnson's pick for the city's top lawyer. In a separate setback reported by The Daily Line, the mayor's nominees for the Chicago Housing Authority board were defeated and stalled during a City Council meeting. Writing in the Chicago Tribune, Ald. Desmon Yancy stated that Mayor Brandon Johnson's problem is not the City Council itself, but rather the coalition that he lost.
Budget discussions are also generating friction between the mayor's office and council members. Southwest Regional Publishing reported that Southwest Side alders have informed Johnson that they want no property tax hike and no head tax in the 2027 budget. Meanwhile, letters published in the Chicago Tribune argued that the City Council should fund a $30 million homelessness prevention package.
Despite the disagreements over appointments and taxes, city officials moved forward on other fronts. Urbanize Chicago reported that the City Council approved a development located at 2648 W. Lawrence. In addition, the Chicago mayor's office previewed a 5-year LGBTQ+ policy plan, according to Windy City Times. Elsewhere in the council, Block Club Chicago reported that many alders skipped a recent domestic violence hearing, and most of those who missed the session would not say why.
Sources
- ABC7 Chicago: Chicago mayoral hopefuls file petitions to get on February ballot on Monday
- Chicago Tribune: Ald. Desmon Yancy: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s problem isn’t the City Council. It’s the coalition he lost.
- WGN-TV: Mayor Johnson’s pick for city’s top lawyer stalled by Chicago alders
- WTTW News: Giannoulias, Quigley, Wilson — But Not Johnson — Among First to File Signatures Ahead of Chicago’s February Mayoral Election
- Chicago Tribune: Letters: The City Council should fund $30 million homelessness prevention package
- Windy City Times: Chicago mayor’s office previews 5-year LGBTQ+ policy plan
- Urbanize Chicago: City Council approves development at 2648 W. Lawrence
- Chicago Sun-Times: Race for Chicago mayor revs up with candidates lugging stacks of nominating petitions to elections board
- Southwest Regional Publishing: Southwest Side alders tell Johnson: No property tax hike, no head tax in 2027 budget
- The Daily Line: Mayor’s Chicago Housing Authority board nominees defeated, stall at Council meeting
- Block Club Chicago: Why Did So Many Alders Skip A Domestic Violence Hearing? Most Who Missed It Won’t Say
- ABC7 Chicago: 2026 elections: Early voting expands in Cook County suburbs, Chicago wards
Watch: Daily Brief October 21 2026: Tax debates, annexation conflicts, and Chicago news updates.
From The Chicagoland Journal on YouTube
Questions readers ask
Who were among the first candidates to file petitions?
Giannoulias, Quigley, and Wilson were among the first candidates to file their signatures ahead of the February mayoral election. Johnson was not among the initial filers.
What appointments faced City Council resistance?
Alders stalled Johnson's pick for the city's top lawyer. His nominees for the Chicago Housing Authority board were defeated and stalled during a City Council meeting.
What do Southwest Side alders want in the 2027 budget?
They told Johnson they want no property tax hike and no head tax.
What development did the City Council approve?
The council approved a development located at 2648 W. Lawrence.
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Rosa Delgado
Metro reporterRosa reports on Chicago's neighbourhoods, the CTA and city hall.
