# 30th Ward alderman election 2027: candidates and the incumbent's record

The 30th Ward seat on the Chicago City Council is on the ballot February 23, 2027. The ward includes Irving Park, Portage Park, Belmont Cragin, Avondale, Dunning. The current alderperson is [Ruth Cruz](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/30). If no candidate wins more than half the vote, the top two meet in a runoff April 6, 2027. Chicago's elections are nonpartisan.

## Candidates

From the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners' receipts for nominating papers, as of October 21, 2026. The Board hasn't posted its list of filed candidates yet, so this list may be incomplete; we add filings as we receive them.

| Candidate | Status | Filed | Petition pages | Signatures (our count) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Ruth Cruz](/candidate/ruth-cruz) (incumbent) | Filed | Oct 19, 2026 | 237 | 2,439 (incomplete) | [Board receipt](https://chicagoelections.gov/getting-ballot/candidates) |
| [Juritzy "Judy" Velez](/candidate/juritzy-velez) | Filed | Oct 19, 2026 | 140 | 1,125 | [Board receipt](https://chicagoelections.gov/getting-ballot/candidates) |

Petition pages is the number on the last page of the candidate's petition, from the Board's receipt. It isn't a signature count: each page holds a limited number of signatures, not every line is filled, and the Board checks how many are valid only if someone objects. Candidates for this office need at least 473 valid signatures. Signatures (our count) is the number of filled-in signature lines we counted on every sheet of the petition copy the Board provided, leaving out lines that were crossed out. It isn't the Board's count of valid signatures: some may be duplicates or from voters outside the ward, and the Board checks that only if someone objects. Ruth Cruz: Our copy has 6 fewer readable sheets than the Board's receipt lists (blank or missing scans), so this undercounts.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Judy Velez | [Friends of Judy Velez](https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=41241) | Jun 30, 2026 |

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

## The candidates side by side

From public records: the Board of Elections (filing) and the Illinois State Board of Elections (campaign money). Only the incumbent has a voting record on this Council.

| Candidate | Council record | Petition pages | Campaign committee | Cash on hand | Raised | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Ruth Cruz](/candidate/ruth-cruz) (incumbent) | 100% attendance; with the majority on 93.4% of divided votes | 237 | n/a | $120,607 (Sep 30, 2026) | $371,235 (this term) | [Board receipt](https://chicagoelections.gov/getting-ballot/candidates) |
| [Juritzy "Judy" Velez](/candidate/juritzy-velez) | None | 140 | n/a | n/a | n/a | [Board receipt](https://chicagoelections.gov/getting-ballot/candidates) |

## The incumbent's report card: Ruth Cruz

From the City Clerk's records for the term that began May 15, 2023, and campaign filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The median is the middle value among the 50 sitting alderpersons. [What counts as a key vote](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/criteria) · [Full profile](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/30).

| Measure | Ruth Cruz | Council median |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Attendance at key roll calls | 100% | 100% |
| With the majority on contested (divided) roll calls | 93.4% | 87.4% |
| Nay votes on key legislation | 7 | 12 |
| Legislation filed as lead sponsor (non-routine) | 53 | 57.5 |
| Of those, reached final action | 48 | 43.5 |
| Raised this term (itemized, $150+) | $371,235 | $358,915 |
| Share of itemized dollars from Chicago addresses (since 2019) | 67% | 72% |
| Share from outside Chicago | 33% | 29% |
| Share from ZIP codes in the ward (approximate) | 37% | n/a |
| Contributions from registered City lobbyists | $42,240 | $49,779 |
| Cash on hand | $120,607 (Sep 30, 2026) | $148,132 |

Committees: [Pedestrian and Traffic Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/pedestrian-and-traffic-safety) (Vice Chair), [Committees and Rules](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/committees-and-rules), [Economic, Capital and Technology Development](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/economic-capital-and-technology-development), [Environmental Protection and Energy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/environmental-protection-and-energy), [Health and Human Relations](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/health-and-human-relations), [Immigrant and Refugee Rights](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/immigrant-and-refugee-rights), [Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/special-events-cultural-affairs-and-recreation), [Workforce Development: Subcommittee on Youth Employment](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/workforce-development-subcommittee-on-youth-employment), [Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/zoning-landmarks-and-building-standards).

**Legislation sponsored, by category**

| Category | Items |
| --- | --- |
| Alley | 31 |
| Municipal Code Amendments | 6 |
| Streets | 5 |
| Budget & Appropriations | 3 |
| Committee/Public Hearings | 2 |
| Property | 2 |

| Top donors since 2019 | Total | Gifts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council Political Action Committee | $50,000 | 8 |
| Ruth Cruz | $32,700 | 4 |
| Friends of Omar Aquino | $32,500 | 2 |
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC | $22,557 | 8 |
| Jack Wuest | $10,750 | 9 |
| Citizens for Ariel E Reboyras | $10,000 | 2 |
| Galaxy Environmental, Inc | $10,000 | 7 |
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor- Management PAC | $10,000 | 4 |
| Avondale Realty LLC | $8,500 | 6 |
| NyLeve Enterprises | $8,500 | 5 |

| Lobbyists who gave | Total | Contributions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patrick Carey | $5,500 | 8 |
| John Dunn | $5,250 | 7 |
| John Daley | $3,500 | 5 |
| John Doerrer | $3,000 | 6 |
| Lisa Duarte | $3,000 | 3 |

Money near votes: $6,767 across 7 key roll calls from interests tied to the legislation, in the 365 days before the vote.

Money near a vote is not evidence that it influenced the vote. The ward share is approximate: ZIP codes don't follow ward lines. Donor and lobbyist flags are name matches. Sources: Illinois State Board of Elections and the City of Chicago Board of Ethics. [All of their campaign money](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/30#money).

## Who lives in the 30th Ward

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Population | 49,687 |
| Median household income | $82,534 |
| Median age | 37.6 |
| Homes that are rented | 37% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree | 29% |
| Residents below the poverty line | 10% |
| Latino, White, Black, Asian residents | 56%, 36%, 2%, 5% |

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 5-year, tracts assigned to the 2023 wards by their internal point. Neighborhoods, largest share in the ward first: City of Chicago, Boundaries - Neighborhoods (y6yq-dbs2) and Community Areas (igwz-8jzy); wards by area overlap (at least 5% of the neighborhood).

## 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) |

## More

- [Ruth Cruz's full profile: votes, legislation, money and meetings](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/30)
- [Who's running for alderman in every ward, with signature counts](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/alderman-candidates)
- [Find your ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/wards)
- [Chicago Board of Election Commissioners](https://chicagoelections.gov/getting-ballot/candidates): candidate filings, registration and polling places

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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/ward/30 · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt