Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will officially launch his campaign for Chicago mayor this weekend, adding his name to a crowded field of candidates.
Giannoulias enters the race with more than $20 million in his campaign war chest, along with plenty of name recognition as he seeks to become mayor of the country’s third-largest city.
The secretary of state will make the announcement official at an event on Chicago’s South Side Sunday, and sat down for an exclusive interview with NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern to discuss his decision.
Now that Giannoulias is formally throwing his hat into the ring, he joins a group of at least 12 candidates who will be vying for the top job in City Hall, and we have a recap of who’s in so far in the February 2027 election.
Declared Candidates:
Matt Brewer
Brewer is the former board chair and CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, and he is hoping to bring his experiences in both the public and private sectors to the top job at City Hall.
“Chicago can attract new businesses and jobs and invest in the communities that have too often been overlooked. We don’t have to choose between economic growth and community investment. The answer is both,” Brewer said in a statement following his announcement.
George Cardenas
A former Chicago alderman who is now on the Cook County Board of Review, Cardenas says he has experienced the challenges Chicagoans are currently facing throughout his life, and that he’s ready to stand up for them in City Hall.
“I know what Chicago families are going through. I mean it,” he told NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern. “The challenges that I faced long ago are still here today. Our family knows what it was like to worry about rent, and what it meant to stretch every dollar, and what it means to work hard and still be a paycheck away from disaster. That is my Chicago story, and to the people of Chicago, I give you that steadfastness, resiliency, not giving up, and having a vision.”
Alexi Giannoulias
Giannoulias is the latest candidate to throw his hat into the ring, doing so this week after months of speculation about his plans. In an exclusive interview with Ahern, Giannoulias said he’s thrilled to take on the challenge involved in running, and that he’s ready for the big stage after his time as secretary of state.
“I’d say judge me on my record as secretary of state,” he said. “I could not be more proud of the work we’ve done to modernize operations, to streamline services, to bring innovation, to rebuild trust in government.”
Joe Holberg
A businessman, Holberg has said his campaign is about delivering real results, and he cited his experiences in launching small businesses within the city in launching his run.
“I am running for Mayor of Chicago because I have a vision to turn our economic engine back on to encourage and support business growth, keep Chicago affordable by building more housing, balance the city’s budget without mortgaging our future, and improve educational outcomes for all students across the city to prepare them for the jobs of the future,” he said on his campaign website.
John Kelly
A businessman who recently helped Chicago finalize a deal to construct a Bally’s Casino within city limits, Kelly says his experiences in working with the public sector while operating his businesses has given him insights into how partnerships can make the city of Chicago work better.
“We have the people, the lake, the neighborhoods, the talent, and the economic strength to thrive. What we need is a City Hall focused on the work residents experience every day,” he said on his campaign website.
Susana Mendoza
Illinois’ comptroller opted not to run for reelection this year to focus instead on a run for Chicago mayor, and she says her campaign is focused on building a city that “works better for the people who built it.”
“We’re paying more for less, we don’t feel safe, and too many people no longer believe City Hall can solve problems,” she said on her campaign website. “We deserve better. We deserve a mayor who’s ready to deliver and offer real progress, not empty promises.”
Dr. Lisa Nee
Nee, an interventional cardiologist with decades of experience in the healthcare sector, became a noted whistleblower after observing firsthand issues with patientcare and other issues at Hines VA Hospital in Chicago.
“I’m running because I believe we deserve a city where public service actually serves the public —where affordability is a reality, not a talking point, where you don’t need connections to get basic things done, and where honesty isn’t treated like a liability,” a press release announcing Nee’s candidacy said.
Maria Pappas
While she hasn’t officially launched a campaign, Cook County’s treasurer has told multiple reporters she plans to run for Chicago mayor after seeking reelection to her current role in the November election.
Mike Quigley
Currently running for reelection to Congress, Quigley has said he wants to run for mayor to help address the struggles the city is facing.
“I love the city of Chicago, and it’s hard for me to see the struggles it’s facing,” he said. “The status quo hasn’t worked for a long time. When the DNC came to Chicago, my colleagues stood with me at the lakefront and were amazed what a beautiful city it was. But it’s all resting on a crumbling financial foundation, and that has to be fixed, or it won’t exist.”
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