Ald. Brendan Reilly could face his first ballot opponent since 2007. Here's the 42nd Ward race and his record

Ald. Brendan Reilly has represented the 42nd Ward, which covers much of downtown, River North, Streeterville and the Gold Coast, since 2007. He has never had an opponent on the ballot. That could change in February: Deborah Lane filed nominating papers to run against him, Block Club Chicago reported Friday.

Why it matters: the 42nd Ward is home to much of downtown's business district and to some of the City's biggest decisions, from the Bally's temporary casino to downtown bridges. A contested race means a public debate about how the ward is run. Lane first has to get through Monday's objection deadline.

The two candidates

Brendan Reilly filed at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19, the opening minute, according to the Board of Election Commissioners' filing report. In 2023 he ran unopposed after his only challenger dropped out, Block Club said. Earlier this year he lost the primary for Cook County Board president to Toni Preckwinkle. Block Club notes he has often clashed with Mayor Brandon Johnson, opposing the head tax and a proposed renter protection ordinance, and he opposes the Bally's casino.

Deborah Lane filed at 5 p.m. on Oct. 26, the last minute of filing, the report shows. Citing her campaign website, Block Club says she is a senior adviser to Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, a former CTA rail operator, and a former secretary-treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308. Her campaign says City Hall should balance the ward's role as an economic center with its role as a neighborhood.

Both had to file at least 473 valid signatures from ward voters. We haven't counted either petition yet, because the Board's copies aren't among those we have received. Our 42nd Ward race page will add both once we do.

What our records add: Reilly's record this term

From his ward page, with the median of the 50 sitting alderpersons for comparison:

• Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 196, of which 147 passed (median 58). More than half, 105, are permits for signs, a routine item for a downtown ward.
• Attendance on key roll calls: 100%, like most members.
• With the majority on divided votes: 74.7% (median 87.4%).
• "No" votes on key legislation: 22 (median 12). They include the City's 2025 revenue ordinance, which passed 27 to 23 in December 2024, and the 2026-2027 borrowing ordinance, which passed 39 to 11 last December.
• Recent votes: he voted for the 30-vote rule for new borrowing in September, which the Mayor vetoed. He was a lead sponsor of one of the repeal ordinances aimed at the Welcoming City ordinance in 2023, which never left committee.

Campaign money, reported beside the votes and not as their cause: Reilly's committee has raised $4.8 million in itemized contributions this term, far above the Council median of about $330,000. It reported $366,997 cash on hand on Sept. 30. Registered City lobbyists gave $147,224 (median $49,779). No campaign committee for Lane appears yet in our list of state filings naming this race.

At this week's budget hearing. On Thursday, Reilly criticized the Chicago Department of Transportation's handling of downtown bridge closures (watch). He objected to being charged $250,000 from his ward's menu money to resurface eastbound Upper Wacker Drive (watch). He also pressed Streets and Sanitation to make downtown property owners power-wash pigeon droppings off their frontages (watch).

What's next

• Mon., Nov. 2, 5 p.m.: objections due. In a two-person race, a successful objection to either petition would leave the other alone on the ballot. None had been reported in any ward as of Saturday, as we report separately.
• Dec. 17: the Board certifies the ballot.
• Feb. 23, 2027: Election Day. With only two names on the ballot, a runoff is unlikely.