By: Ashmar Mandou

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced her run to be Chicago’s next mayor. Releasing a video posted to YouTube last Wednesday, Mendoza, 54, stated, “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, about how a city this strong should work better for the people who build it.”

Mendoza, a Democrat, served as comptroller since 2016 and before her statewide role, she served as the first woman elected as Chicago City Clerk. Mendoza also served 6-terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, where she passed legislation to create the free school breakfast program for k-12 elementary schools in Illinois and co-founded the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and member of the HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality).

She also previously ran for mayor in 2019, a year that featured a deep field after then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel declined to run for a third term. Mendoza garnered only 9% of the vote, coming in fifth place. Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle advanced to the runoff, which Lightfoot won decisively.

While Mayor Brandon Johnson as not formally announces he will seek reelection, Rep. Mike Quigley, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, former teacher Joe Holberg, and small business owner Liam Stanton have all announced their candidacies. Chicagoans will decide their next mayor on February 23, 2027.

Photo Credit: Susana Mendoza For Chicago Website