Mayor Brandon Johnson made his reelection bid official Friday afternoon, hauling roughly 33,000 signatures from Chicago voters into the Board of Elections office to qualify for the Feb. 23, 2027 mayoral ballot. He arrived with an 18-inch-high stack of petitions, filed at the Board of Elections Loop Super Site, and will appear sixth on the ballot.
Johnson's decision to file Friday afternoon, after the opening day of the filing period, set him apart from much of the field, according to WTTW. Five rivals — businessman Willie Wilson, lobbyist John Kelly, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, Chicago Housing Authority Commissioner Matt Brewer and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias — showed up on the very first day, Oct. 19, which earned each of them a draw in the lottery for the coveted first spot on the February ballot, per the Chicago Tribune. By filing later, Johnson bypassed that drawing altogether.
Candidates need at least 12,500 valid signatures to qualify, but the field blew well past that floor. Giannoulias turned in about 60,000 signatures, the largest stack of the bunch, followed by Quigley with roughly 42,000, Kelly with 36,000 and Brewer with 32,000. Wilson's total was reported differently depending on the source: the Tribune put his submission at 30,000 signatures, while Wilson told WBEZ he turned in an estimated 35,000.
Why Candidates Pad Their Petitions
The oversized stacks are standard practice in Chicago mayoral races. WBEZ noted that hopefuls often turn in double or triple what's required.
Wilson said he would consider filing objections against opponents. The objection window runs from Oct. 27 through Nov. 2, with the Board of Election Commissioners deciding disputes, according to the board's own objection-process guidance.
A Crowded Field and a Tough Poll Number
Johnson's filing comes against a rough political backdrop. His approval rating sat at 22% in the latest Mansueto/NORC poll, as reported by Axios, which also found that 25% of more than 1,100 adults surveyed named Giannoulias their top choice so far. Giannoulias, who has secured endorsements from two Service Employees International Union locals, reportedly has nearly $20 million in the bank heading into the race.
Johnson discussed the fundraising gap with rivals.
Other notable names have yet to file as of Friday. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and attorney William Quinlan both plan to turn in their petitions Monday, the filing deadline. Candidates must submit by Oct. 26, and the Board of Elections is set to certify the full ballot by Dec. 17, according to WBEZ.
The Road to a Possible Runoff
Johnson's team had said he planned to file after his annual budget address Wednesday.
Chicago's election calendar, laid out by the city's own candidate guide, sets the consolidated municipal election for Feb. 23, 2027, with an April 6 runoff if no candidate secures a majority.
