John Kelly, a longtime Chicago lobbyist with deep ties to city and state power players, is weighing a run for mayor and has already begun raising money behind the scenes. That potential bid puts his client relationships, which often hinge on City Hall approvals, squarely under a public microscope.
Kelly’s client roster features some of the city’s heaviest hitters, including the White Sox, Bally’s Chicago, and law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman, and he has registered lobbying activity tied to the United Center and other stadium-area projects. He also shares a business partnership with Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf in a local security firm whose executives have their own city-facing relationships. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, disclosure records show Kelly lobbied the mayor’s office and alderpeople for Bally’s throughout 2025.
At the same time, Kelly has been quietly assembling a political war chest. A committee tied to him, Citizens for John Kelly, reports roughly $449,701 in cash on hand. According to Illinois Sunshine, that committee now ranks among the better-funded potential campaigns turning up in state filings. Local coverage has also noted that former Blackhawks star Chris Chelios is serving as Kelly’s campaign treasurer, per Chicago Magazine.
The timing is not subtle. City Hall recently tightened rules meant to blunt lobbyist influence in mayoral politics. As reported by WTTW, the City Council voted to bar registered lobbyists from donating to the mayor or to candidates for mayor and gave the Board of Ethics more muscle to punish violations. That regulatory backdrop will shape how voters and rivals size up a candidate whose career has centered on representing firms that frequently need City Hall sign-offs.
Big Projects, Bigger Questions
Bally’s permanent River West casino complex and the Near West Side United Center development are exactly the kind of mega-projects that live or die on zoning, taxes, and permits from the city, the same levers Kelly has lobbied on. Documents Bally’s filed with securities regulators detail its temporary casino operations at the Medinah Temple and its plan for a permanent site at 777 W. Chicago Ave, while local project trackers show demolition and construction activity lining the riverfront. Those timelines help explain why Kelly’s Bally’s work and stadium ties are likely to be among the first issues raised by opponents and watchdogs in a campaign. They are also the sorts of approvals that would demand carefully drawn recusal plans if he decides to run.
Donors, Ties, and the Revolving Door
Kelly’s political reach extends beyond client lists into donor networks. Campaign records, public filings, and reporting show his firm and allied entities have been active contributors in Illinois politics. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that All-Circo, Inc. has given more than $500,000 to state and local candidates over the years and that a law firm tied to the Vrdolyak family contributed $14,600 to Kelly’s committee on Dec. 31. Kelly told the Sun-Times he would divest from All-Circo if he wins, saying, “I would divest myself from my firm…we’d have zero conflict of interest.”
Kelly has not formally declared a campaign, but the fundraising, staffing moves, and early donor lineup suggest this is more than a few trial balloons. Chicago Magazine lists him among the well-funded potential challengers to Mayor Brandon Johnson. The coming months and the 2027 race cycle are likely to force sharper disclosures about how any Kelly mayoral run would separate campaign activity from his ongoing lobbying relationships.
