CHICAGO URBAN DAILY
CHICAGO (CHICAGO URBAN DAILY)— The clipboard campaign is over. Now comes the courtroom phase.
Fourteen candidates filed to run for mayor of Chicago, and starting today, Tuesday, October 27, the petition challenges open. They run through November 2, and the fight over who actually survives will stretch until the ballot is certified December 17.
Monday’s final-day filers set the field. Retiring Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza filed a self-reported 26,000 signatures. Cardiologist and political newcomer Lisa Nee turned in 31,000. Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas filed 31,500. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas filed “slightly shy of” 40,000. Attorney William Quinlan, businessman Joe Holberg (32,000), conservative Danielle Carter-Walters (13,000) and former real estate developer Zoe Ma (17,000) also filed on the last day.
They join the five first-day filers: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, lobbyist John Kelly, former Chicago Housing Authority Chair Matthew Brewer, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and businessman Willie Wilson — plus Mayor Brandon Johnson, who filed about 33,000 signatures Friday.
But filing is a claim, not a result. Candidates need 12,500 valid signatures, and the challenges are already taking shape. Wilson said he is “looking at everybody.” Giannoulias’ campaign says the presumed front-runner, armed with a $19.3 million war chest, plans to scrutinize everybody’s petitions. Operatives expect Kelly to challenge Mendoza, Mendoza to challenge Cardenas, and Giannoulias to concentrate on Quigley and the vote-rich north lakefront.
Fourteen names filed. How many survive to February 23 is now up to the challenges.
Stay tuned to Chicago Urban Daily as the challenges land.
Reported by Chicago Urban Daily News. Visit chicagourbandailynews.com for updates.
