# Johnson files for a second term as candidate filing closes Monday. Seven alderpersons hadn't filed in our records

*The Mayor turned in about 33,000 signatures on Friday. Filing ends at 5 p.m. Oct. 26, and our list from the Board's receipts through Oct. 21 shows seven sitting alderpersons without a filing yet.*

By Chicago Politics · Updated Oct 24, 2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson filed his nominating petitions on Friday, Oct. 23, formally entering the race for a second term. His campaign said he turned in 33,000 signatures, more than twice the 12,500 valid signatures a mayoral candidate needs, [ABC7 Chicago reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/brandon-johnson-formally-files-petitions-seek-second-term-chicago-mayor/19973526/). Filing for every city office closes at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, according to the [Board of Election Commissioners' calendar](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf).

Why it matters: Monday sets the field that voters in every ward will choose from on Feb. 23, 2027. After that, the fights move to the objection period, when voters can challenge a candidate's petitions.

This is a follow-up to our [Oct. 19 look at who is running](/on-my-block/who-is-running-chicago-mayor-city-council-2027), written as filing opened. Here is what has changed.

## What happened this week

On the first day of filing, Oct. 19, five mayoral candidates filed and entered the lottery for the top ballot spot: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, businessman Willie Wilson, lobbyist John Kelly and Chicago Housing Authority board member Matt Brewer, [WBEZ and the Sun-Times reported](https://www.wbez.org/politics/2026/10/20/mayor-race-candidates-stacks-nominating-petitions-chicago-board-of-elections). Giannoulias turned in about 60,000 signatures, the most of any candidate that day, according to that report.

Johnson skipped the first-day lottery. Asked about it Friday, he said, "What do I need a lottery for? I'm the mayor of the city of Chicago," [according to ABC7](https://abc7chicago.com/post/brandon-johnson-formally-files-petitions-seek-second-term-chicago-mayor/19973526/). He also said he did not plan to lose.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza had not filed as of the first day; a spokesperson said she would file on the last day, [WBEZ reported](https://www.wbez.org/politics/2026/10/20/mayor-race-candidates-stacks-nominating-petitions-chicago-board-of-elections). Candidates who file on Monday compete in a second lottery for the last spot on the ballot.

The week also brought a shift in support. SEIU Local 1 and Local 73, which backed Johnson in 2023, endorsed Giannoulias, the [Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/20/seiu-endorses-alexi-giannoulias-mayoral-race-brandon-johnson). The paper reported that Giannoulias had about $19.2 million in his campaign fund, and Johnson $379,471.

## What our records add

**Seven sitting alderpersons had no filing in our records.** Our [list of alderman candidates](/elections/2027/alderman-candidates) comes from the Board's receipts for nominating papers. As of Oct. 21, it showed 72 candidates in 49 wards, including 43 sitting alderpersons. We had not received a filing from seven incumbents:

- Ald. William E. Hall ([6th Ward](/elections/2027/ward/6))
- Ald. Marty Quinn ([13th](/elections/2027/ward/13))
- Ald. Matthew J. O'Shea ([19th](/elections/2027/ward/19))
- Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez ([22nd](/elections/2027/ward/22))
- Ald. Byron Sigcho-López ([25th](/elections/2027/ward/25))
- Ald. Nicholas Sposato ([38th](/elections/2027/ward/38))
- Ald. Brendan Reilly ([42nd](/elections/2027/ward/42))

That does not mean any of them is leaving. Many candidates file late in the week, and the Board's receipts reach us in batches. The 42nd Ward, downtown, was the only ward with no candidate of any kind on our list. Each ward page will update as new receipts come in.

**The Mayor's record with this Council.** Johnson's legislation has reached [526 key roll calls this term, and 525 passed](/insights/mayors-legislation), by our count. The one that failed and the 49 that drew at least one no vote are listed on that page. This month, the Council [rejected two of his Chicago Housing Authority board appointments](/on-my-block/city-council-rejects-cha-board-appointments-westbrook-bartlett), 29 to 16, and his [veto of a borrowing rule survived by one vote](/on-my-block/city-council-30-votes-to-borrow).

**He is running while his budget is in committee.** Johnson's $17.6 billion 2027 budget was [introduced Oct. 21](/on-my-block/chicago-2027-budget-johnson-fair-share-17-6-billion) and is in hearings now. The Council must pass a budget by Dec. 31, about eight weeks before Election Day.

## What happens next

- **Oct. 26, 5 p.m.:** filing closes.
- **Oct. 27 to Nov. 2:** voters may file objections to candidates' petitions. We will list each one on our [objections page](/elections/2027/objections). Wilson said on the first day that he would review every rival's petitions, [WBEZ reported](https://www.wbez.org/politics/2026/10/20/mayor-race-candidates-stacks-nominating-petitions-chicago-board-of-elections). Johnson said Friday he did not plan to challenge other candidates, [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/brandon-johnson-formally-files-petitions-seek-second-term-chicago-mayor/19973526/).
- **Dec. 17:** the Board certifies the ballot.
- **Feb. 23, 2027:** Election Day, with an April 6 runoff where no one wins a majority.

To see your own ward's race, type your address into our [2027 voter guide](/elections/2027/voter-guide). The [mayor's race page](/elections/2027/mayor) lists everyone with a campaign committee for the office and will add candidates as the Board posts its filings.

*Sources: [Chicago Politics: Who's running for alderman in 2027](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/alderman-candidates); [Chicago Politics: Mayor's race, 2027](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/elections/2027/mayor); [Chicago Politics: How the Mayor's legislation fared](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/insights/mayors-legislation); [Chicago Politics: Who's running for mayor and City Council (Oct. 19)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/who-is-running-chicago-mayor-city-council-2027).*


## Sources

1. ABC7: [ABC7 Chicago reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/brandon-johnson-formally-files-petitions-seek-second-term-chicago-mayor/19973526/)
2. WBEZ: [WBEZ and the Sun-Times reported](https://www.wbez.org/politics/2026/10/20/mayor-race-candidates-stacks-nominating-petitions-chicago-board-of-elections)
3. Chicago Sun-Times: [Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/20/seiu-endorses-alexi-giannoulias-mayoral-race-brandon-johnson)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/johnson-files-reelection-petitions-filing-closes-monday-2027 · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt