By: Ashmar Mandou

Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced she will not seek re-election in 2026 and called for stronger leadership in Chicago. Mendoza, 53, made the announcement Wednesday at Los Comales restaurant in Little Village. Mendoza has served as state comptroller since 2016.

“I know I leave the comptroller’s office in our state in a much, much better spot and I’m definitely not done serving moving forward,” Mendoza said. “I’m going to figure out what the right move is for our family, for our city, and for our state. [I will] find out where I’m needed most, what’s that next biggest challenge that I need to take on, because no challenge is too big as far as I’m concerned. When I decide what that is, then you better believe I’ll be all in because I’ll be the best person for the job,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza made a previous run for mayor in 2019 when she was eliminated in the first round of voting. She went on to endorse Lori Lightfoot, who was eventually elected mayor. Mendoza did not rule out another run for mayor. She cast shade on the tenures of Lightfoot and Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Chicago is in need of competency, of someone who understands the needs of the city, who understands how important the role of the city is in the good functioning of the whole state, and I think we’ve had two very unsuccessful mayors in a row. Chicagoans deserve better. They deserve a lot better,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza began her career in politics as a state representative from 2000 to 2011. She then served as the first woman elected as the City Clerk of Chicago until 2016, prior to taking office as state comptroller.