CHICAGO, Illinois, August 3, 2026 — Chicago mayoral hopeful Alexi Giannoulias made his campaign official on Sunday. Giannoulias is Secretary of State in Illinois. With less than five months until petition filing, the Chicago mayor race takes on a more contentious tone as candidates campaign for position in advance of February 2027 voting.
Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Secretary of State, is starting a campaign for mayor as multiple high-profile contenders enter the race for Chicago mayor.
About the race for mayor
He announced his campaign via video and later posted it on social media one Sunday morning before holding a rally at the IBEW Local 134 union hall in Bronzeville. Mayor Brandon Johnson has not yet officially announced a reelection bid.
Entering the race at age 50, Giannoulias joins a crowded field of a dozen other high-profile candidates. Among this cohort are Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley.
Mayor Brandon Johnson remains a potential re-election candidate whose supporters have already signed nominating petitions. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has also hinted at running, though she hasn’t officially launched her campaign either.
Candidates have until October to file petitions. If no one wins a majority, there will be a runoff. The vote on it as a municipal ballot is planned for 2027.
Giannoulias’s Message and Campaign Funding
His comments on the Giannoulias campaign follow: Chicagoans deserve a government that works just as hard for them, he said. “These people work hard. Chicagoans don’t expect perfection. But they do want their leaders to listen, to hustle, and who love this city as much as them.”
He outlined his main priorities, which include restarting economic growth and expanding accommodation to protect affordability in the city. He intends to balance the city’s budget and provide better outcomes for children throughout the city.
His campaign fund grew significantly last year, bringing $22 million into the race following months of public speculation about his plans.
Simultaneously Running for Both Offices
Giannoulias will also be running for reelection this November for Illinois Secretary of State, meaning he will be running for a pair of offices at once.
Giannoulias previously served as Illinois state treasurer from 2007 to 2011. He wants to balance the budget and get more of the city’s kids ahead. In the 2010 U.S. Senate race, he lost to Republican Mark Kirk by under 60,000 votes in the state.
The fall of Broadway Bank during that race hurt his campaign—it was a family-run bank that performed poorly through the Global Financial Crisis.
As secretary of state, Giannoulias has taken action by overseeing the implementation of Real ID, rolling out digital DMV driver licenses, and backing a book ban prohibition law in Illinois.
On Aug. 5, 2026: Chicago’s first election for mayor in 2027 is still a few months away from the start of petition filing and several would-be candidates have yet to actually declare for the race. The field may well change more before the filing deadline; public statements, campaign finance filings and now election timelines indicate that.
Political scientists point to the importance of early campaign fundraising, backing by statewide labor and community organizations and policy proposals on public safety, housing affordability, economic development and financial management as guides that shape voters’ impressions in hotly contested mayoral contests. Campaign announcements offer a preview of how each candidate will frame their priorities — but Chicago voters will judge candidates on governing records, policy platforms, fundraising disclosures and election stats.
What Comes Next
He began his campaign at a union hall, where he gave his announcement alongside trade union labor leaders. Johnson also has the backing of some union members and calls himself Chicago’s most pro-union mayor.
Also, reporters asked about the police superintendent’s job, which is vacant after former Supt. Larry Snelling recently retired. Giannoulias addressed the timing directly: “The timing is not my decision,” he said, while noting that he supports increasing the number of officers and tighter controls on overtime pay.
The mayoral field keeps expanding, while Johnson has given no official public confirmation of his plans. The race will remain competitive leading up to the official fall filing deadline.
Day one on the job will present significant policy challenges for Chicago’s next major, as they inherit an unbalanced budget, public safety issues, pressure to improve affordable housing and economic development. The 2027 results will drive choices around municipal budgets, infrastructure projects and city services that impact millions of residents. As some veteran politicians announce their candidacies, voters are likely to scrutinize positions on the issues across candidates.
