2023 Chicago aldermanic election


The 2023 Chicago aldermanic election took place in two rounds on February 28 and April 4, 2023, to elect 50 alderpersons to the Chicago City Council. Each alderperson represents one of Chicago's 50 wards. The elections are non-partisan and use a two-round system where the top two finishers compete in a second-round runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round. The elections are part of the 2023 Chicago elections, which include elections for Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer.
Sixteen seats changed hands since the previous election, as 12 alderpersons did not run for re-election and 4 additional members resigned during their terms. Media commentators and analysts have noted this unusually high number of retirements, comparing it to the broader "Great Resignation" phenomenon in the United States workforce.
In the first round, candidates in 36 wards won outright majorities while elections in 14 wards proceeded to a runoff election. One incumbent lost in the first round and five others were forced into a runoff, where all five won. Elected alderpersons took office on May 15, 2023, including a record number of women and LGBT alderpersons. While the elections are non-partisan, 6 candidates endorsed by the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America were re-elected or elected for the first time.

Background

Redistricting

In 2021, the City Council began debate over new ward map boundaries as part of the redistricting process following the 2020 United States census. The proposed map needed be approved by 41 aldermen before May 19, 2022, otherwise proposed maps would have been submitted to voters as a referendum in the June 2022 election.
Members of the City Council fractured in support for two competing maps: one proposed by the Rules Committee and supported by the Black Caucus and one called the "Coalition Map" supported by the Latino Caucus. The former map proposed 16 majority-Black wards and 14 majority-Latino wards while the latter map proposed 16 majority-Black wards and 15 majority-Latino wards. Later versions of both maps proposed the first ever majority-Asian American ward. A resident group called Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission also proposed its own map, but it did not receive support from any member of the council. After months of debate, Rules Committee chair Michelle Harris announced on May 9, 2022, that a tentative deal had been reached with the support of 41 aldermen that would create 16 Black-majority wards, 14 Latino-majority wards, and one Asian American-majority ward. The map was approved in a 43–7 vote on May 16, 2022.

Overview

Retiring incumbents

Ray Lopez initially launched a campaign for mayor in May 2022, but dropped out and opted to run for re-election to City Council in November.

Campaign calendar

Candidates are required to submit a petition with 473 signatures from registered voters in their ward in order to appear on the ballot. Petitions can be circulated starting on August 30, 2022, and must be filed by November 28, 2022.

Wards 1-25

Ward 2">2nd ward, Chicago">Ward 2

Candidates

Incumbent alderperson Brian K. Hopkins ran uncontested.

Ward 3">3rd ward, Chicago">Ward 3

Candidates

Incumbent alderperson Pat Dowell ran uncontested. Three candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures.

Ward 4">4th ward, Chicago">Ward 4

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures:

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 5">5th ward, Chicago">Ward 5

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures:
  • Adrienne Irmer

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 6">6th ward, Chicago">Ward 6

Candidates

The following candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures:

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 7">7th ward, Chicago">Ward 7

Candidates

Incumbent alderperson Gregory Mitchell is running uncontested. Two challengers filed petitions to run for the seat, but were removed from the ballot after due to insufficient petition signatures.

Ward 8">8th ward, Chicago">Ward 8

Candidates

The following candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient petition signatures:
  • Geno Young

Ward 9">9th ward, Chicago">Ward 9

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions to appear on the ballot but withdrew prior to ballot certification:
  • Sonya Thompson Dorsey

Ward 10">10th ward, Chicago">Ward 10

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 11">11th ward, Chicago">Ward 11

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 12

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to filing an economic statement, not with Cook County:
  • Joseph E. Mercado

Ward 16

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures:
  • Otis Woods

Ward 17

Incumbent alderperson David H. Moore is running uncontested.

Ward 21

Candidates

The following candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures:
The following candidates filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
  • Tawana J. Robinson
  • Nekoiya Washington
  • Aziza T. Butler

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 24

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 25

Candidates

The following candidate was certified to appear on the ballot, but dropped out of the race and endorsed Flores:
  • Daniel Montes, firefighter and paramedic

Wards 26-50

Ward 26

Candidates

The following candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures:
  • Kirk J. Ortiz
  • Anthony N. Rivera
The incumbent alderperson, Roberto Maldonado, initially filed petitions to run, but withdrew before ballot certification.

Ward 27

Incumbent alderperson Walter Burnett Jr. is running for re-election uncontested.

Ward 28

Candidates

Challenger Shawn Walker was initially removed from the ballot by the Board of Elections, but reinstated onto the ballot by the Illinois Appellate Court after an appeal. Two other candidates filed nominating petitions, but one was removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures and another withdrew before ballot certification.

Ward 29

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
  • Walter T. Adamczyk

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 30

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures:
  • Andrew A. Cleaver
The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
  • Rory McHale

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 31

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
  • Patrick J. Gibbons II

Ward 32

Candidates

Incumbent alderman Scott Waguespack is running uncontested for re-election.

Ward 35

Candidates

Incumbent alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is running uncontested for re-election. Challenger Richard Mpistolarides filed petitions, but was removed from the ballot for allegedly circulating petitions with a false address.

Ward 36

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 38

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
  • Gregory T. Schorsch

Ward 40">40th ward, Chicago">Ward 40

Candidates

The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot:

Ward 42

Candidates

Incumbent alderperson Brendan Reilly is running uncontested for re-election. Challenger Chris Cleary filed nominating petitions, but withdrew before ballot certification.

Ward 43

Results

Runoff

Ward 44

Candidates

Bennett Lawson, chief of staff to incumbent Tom Tunney and former legislative aide, is running uncontested. Challenger Nathan Bean filed nominating petitions, but was removed from the ballot for improperly filing paperwork. Bean has filed a lawsuit to challenge the Board of Election's ruling.

Ward 45

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 46

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 47

Incumbent alderperson Matt Martin is running uncontested for re-election.

Ward 48

Candidates

The following candidates launched campaigns but withdrew before filing nominating petitions:
  • Seva Gandhi
  • Dennis Sneyers
'''Endorsements'''

Results

General election

Runoff

Ward 49

Candidates

The following candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient petition signatures:
  • Williamton "Willie" Davis