# Who's running for Chicago city clerk in 2027: candidates and key dates

Chicago elects its city clerk citywide on February 23, 2027. If no candidate wins more than half the vote, the top two meet in a runoff April 6, 2027. Candidates need at least 12,500 valid signatures from Chicago voters to file, according to the [Board of Election Commissioners](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf).

## Candidates

Candidate filing is open (October 19, 2026, to October 26, 2026). No filings for city clerk are listed here yet: we add candidates from the Board's published filings, each linked to its source. For the latest, see [the Board's candidate page](https://chicagoelections.gov/getting-ballot/candidates).

## Campaign committees registered for this race

These people have a campaign committee registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections that names this race. That isn't the same as being on the ballot: candidates file nominating papers with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, and appear under Candidates once the Board lists them. Many candidates, including most incumbents, don't update their committee's race, so this list is incomplete.

| Name | Campaign committee | Registered |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anna Valencia (incumbent) | [Valencia for Chicago](https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=38788) | Sep 19, 2022 |
| Jacob Schulz | [Residents For Jacob Schulz](https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=41384) | Aug 26, 2026 |

Source: [Illinois State Board of Elections](https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosureDataFiles/), as of Oct 21, 2026.

## Key dates

| Date | What happens | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Jul 28, 2026 | Candidates may start circulating nominating petitions | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Oct 19, 2026 to Oct 26, 2026 | Candidate filing period: nominating papers are filed with the Board. Alderperson candidates need at least 473 valid signatures from voters in their ward. | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Oct 27, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026 | Objection period: voters may challenge a candidate's nominating papers | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Last day to withdraw; the Board certifies the candidates on the ballot | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Last day to file as a write-in candidate. Later (Feb. 16, 2027) if an objection is sustained after this date. | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| **To be confirmed** | Early voting locations and hours. The Board publishes the schedule between Jan. 3 and Jan. 9, 2027. | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/early-votingvote-centers) |
| Jan 14, 2027 to Feb 22, 2027 | Early voting: earliest start through the day before the election. Jan. 14 is the earliest date the law allows; the Board's schedule sets the actual days. | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Jan 26, 2027 | Last day of regular voter registration. Grace-period registration and voting continue in person through Election Day. | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Feb 18, 2027 | Last day to apply for a mail ballot by mail or online | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Feb 23, 2027 | Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Feb 25, 2027 to Apr 5, 2027 | Runoff early voting: earliest start through the day before the runoff | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Mar 16, 2027 | Last day for the Board to proclaim the February results | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| Apr 6, 2027 | Runoff, in wards where no candidate won more than half the vote | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |
| May 17, 2027 | New Council term begins at noon | [Chicago Board of Elections](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) |

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[How we list candidates, and our corrections policy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/criteria) · [All 2027 races](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027) · [Election calendar](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/calendar) · [Objections](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/objections)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/clerk · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt