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45th Ward alderman election 2027: candidates and the incumbent's record
The 45th Ward seat on the Chicago City Council is on the ballot February 23, 2027. The ward includes Jefferson Park, Sauganash / Forest Glen, Portage Park, Norwood Park, Irving Park. The current alderperson is James M. Gardiner. 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.
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S Gronkiewicz-Doran
- Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Board receipt
- Petition pages: 194 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): 1,495, on 194 signature sheets. 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.
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Leah Cunningham Pouw
- Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Board receipt
- Petition pages: 199 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): 1,653, on 199 signature sheets. 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.
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James "Jim" Gardiner
- Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Board receipt
- Signatures (our count): 3,155, on 342 signature sheets. 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.
- The sitting alderperson: View profile
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Leah Pouw Cunningham | Neighbors for Leah | Apr 16, 2026 |
| S Gronkiewicz-Doran | SGD for 45 | Apr 10, 2026 |
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S Gronkiewicz-Doran | None | 194 | n/a | n/a | n/a | Board receipt |
| Leah Cunningham Pouw | None | 199 | n/a | n/a | n/a | Board receipt |
| James "Jim" Gardiner (incumbent) | 100% attendance; with the majority on 72.8% of divided votes | n/a | n/a | $93,102 (Sep 30, 2026) | $666,415 (this term) | Board receipt |
The incumbent's report card: James M. Gardiner
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 · Full profile.
| Measure | James M. Gardiner | Council median |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance at key roll calls | 100% | 100% |
| With the majority on contested (divided) roll calls | 72.8% | 87.4% |
| Nay votes on key legislation | 25 | 12 |
| Legislation filed as lead sponsor (non-routine) | 72 | 57.5 |
| Of those, reached final action | 62 | 43.5 |
| Raised this term (itemized, $150+) | $666,415 | $358,915 |
| Share of itemized dollars from Chicago addresses (since 2019) | 72% | 72% |
| Share from outside Chicago | 28% | 29% |
| Share from ZIP codes in the ward (approximate) | 31% | n/a |
| Contributions from registered City lobbyists | $16,775 | $49,779 |
| Cash on hand | $93,102 (Sep 30, 2026) | $148,132 |
Committees: Committees and Rules, Contracting Oversight and Equity, Education and Child Development, License and Consumer Protection, Police and Fire, Public Safety, Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation.
Legislation sponsored, by category
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Alley | 30 |
| Signs/Signboards | 24 |
| Municipal Code Amendments | 5 |
| Parking | 4 |
| Budget & Appropriations | 3 |
| Streets | 2 |
| Top donors since 2019 | Total | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| Wintrust Bank | $148,523 | 19 |
| Chicago Fire Department Local 2 PAC | $94,200 | 19 |
| Fraternal Order of Police | $76,431 | 7 |
| Koch Foods of Chicago | $40,300 | 12 |
| Bridge Structural & Reinforcing Local #1 | $36,000 | 11 |
| Pipefitters Assoc. Local 597 PAC | $20,500 | 9 |
| Liuna Chicago Laborers District Council PAC | $19,500 | 9 |
| Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council PAC | $17,500 | 8 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 399 PAC | $17,000 | 10 |
| Chicago Land Operators Joint labor PAC | $17,000 | 7 |
| Lobbyists who gave | Total | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Carey | $2,500 | 5 |
| John Dunn | $2,500 | 5 |
| Thomas Raines | $1,500 | 1 |
| Rolando Acosta | $1,500 | 3 |
| Michael Alvarez | $1,500 | 1 |
Money near votes: $70,931 across 9 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.
Who lives in the 45th Ward
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 52,973 |
| Median household income | $95,886 |
| Median age | 40.4 |
| Homes that are rented | 33% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree | 44% |
| Residents below the poverty line | 9% |
| Latino, White, Black, Asian residents | 28%, 59%, 2%, 8% |
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
- Candidates may start circulating nominating petitions Chicago Board of Elections
- Next 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
- Objection period: voters may challenge a candidate's nominating papers Chicago Board of Elections
- Last day to withdraw; the Board certifies the candidates on the ballot Chicago Board of Elections
- 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
- To be confirmed Early voting locations and hours. The Board publishes the schedule between Jan. 3 and Jan. 9, 2027. Chicago Board of Elections
- 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
- Last day of regular voter registration. Grace-period registration and voting continue in person through Election Day. Chicago Board of Elections
- Last day to apply for a mail ballot by mail or online Chicago Board of Elections
- Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Chicago Board of Elections
- Runoff early voting: earliest start through the day before the runoff Chicago Board of Elections
- Last day for the Board to proclaim the February results Chicago Board of Elections
- Runoff, in wards where no candidate won more than half the vote Chicago Board of Elections
- New Council term begins at noon Chicago Board of Elections
More
- James M. Gardiner's full profile: votes, legislation, money and meetings
- Who's running for alderman in every ward, with signature counts
- Find your ward
- Chicago Board of Election Commissioners: candidate filings, registration and polling places
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How we list candidates, and our corrections policy · All 2027 races · Election calendar · Objections