2023 Chicago aldermanic election

The 2023 Chicago aldermanic election took place in two rounds on February 28 and April 4, 2023, to elect 50 alderpersons to the Chicago City Council. Each alderperson represents one of Chicago's 50 wards. The elections are non-partisan and use a two-round system where the top two finishers compete in a second-round runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round. The elections are part of the 2023 Chicago elections, which include elections for Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer.

Sixteen seats changed hands since the previous election, as 12 alderpersons did not run for re-election and 4 additional members resigned during their terms. Media commentators and analysts have noted this unusually high number of retirements, comparing it to the broader "Great Resignation" phenomenon in the United States workforce.

In the first round, candidates in 36 wards won outright majorities while elections in 14 wards proceeded to a runoff election. One incumbent lost in the first round and five others were forced into a runoff, where all five won. Elected alderpersons took office on May 15, 2023, including a record number of women and LGBT alderpersons. While the elections are non-partisan, 6 candidates endorsed by the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America were re-elected or elected for the first time.

Redistricting
In 2021, the City Council began debate over new ward map boundaries as part of the redistricting process following the 2020 United States census. The proposed map needed be approved by 41 aldermen before May 19, 2022, otherwise proposed maps would have been submitted to voters as a referendum in the June 2022 election.

Members of the City Council fractured in support for two competing maps: one proposed by the Rules Committee and supported by the Black Caucus and one called the "Coalition Map" supported by the Latino Caucus. The former map proposed 16 majority-Black wards and 14 majority-Latino wards while the latter map proposed 16 majority-Black wards and 15 majority-Latino wards. Later versions of both maps proposed the first ever majority-Asian American ward. A resident group called Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission also proposed its own map, but it did not receive support from any member of the council. After months of debate, Rules Committee chair Michelle Harris announced on May 9, 2022, that a tentative deal had been reached with the support of 41 aldermen that would create 16 Black-majority wards, 14 Latino-majority wards, and one Asian American-majority ward. The map was approved in a 43–7 vote on May 16, 2022.

Retiring incumbents
Ray Lopez (15th ward) initially launched a campaign for mayor in May 2022, but dropped out and opted to run for re-election to City Council in November.

Campaign calendar
Candidates are required to submit a petition with 473 signatures from registered voters in their ward in order to appear on the ballot. Petitions can be circulated starting on August 30, 2022, and must be filed by November 28, 2022.

Candidates
Incumbent alderperson Brian K. Hopkins (elected 2015) is running uncontested.

Candidates
Incumbent alderperson Pat Dowell (elected 2007) is running uncontested. Three candidates (Don Davis, Alan Sargon "Al" Rasho, and Jasmine Roberson) filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures.

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures:


 * Paul Pearson

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures:


 * Adrienne Irmer

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures:
 * Curtiss S. Llong Bey
 * Steven Dejoie

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
Incumbent alderperson Gregory Mitchell (elected 2015) is running uncontested. Two challengers (Anthony "Tony" Blair and Jocilyn Floyd) filed petitions to run for the seat, but were removed from the ballot after due to insufficient petition signatures.

Candidates
The following candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient petition signatures:


 * Geno Young

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions to appear on the ballot but withdrew prior to ballot certification:
 * Sonya Thompson Dorsey

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to filing an economic statement, not with Cook County:
 * Joseph E. Mercado

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures:
 * Otis Woods

Ward 17
Incumbent alderperson David H. Moore is running uncontested.

Candidates
The following candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures:


 * Justin Sawyer Write in candidate
 * Lawaco Toe
 * Patricia L. Tillman
 * Bernard "BK" Kelly

The following candidates filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
 * Tawana J. Robinson
 * Nekoiya Washington
 * Aziza T. Butler

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate was certified to appear on the ballot, but dropped out of the race and endorsed Flores:


 * Daniel Montes, firefighter and paramedic

Candidates
The following candidates filed petitions but were removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures: The incumbent alderperson, Roberto Maldonado, initially filed petitions to run, but withdrew before ballot certification.
 * Kirk J. Ortiz
 * Anthony N. Rivera

Ward 27
Incumbent alderperson Walter Burnett Jr. is running for re-election uncontested.

Candidates
Challenger Shawn Walker was initially removed from the ballot by the Board of Elections, but reinstated onto the ballot by the Illinois Appellate Court after an appeal. Two other candidates filed nominating petitions, but one (Beverly Miles) was removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures and another (Timothy Gladney) withdrew before ballot certification.

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
 * Walter T. Adamczyk

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures: The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
 * Andrew A. Cleaver
 * Rory McHale

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
 * Patrick J. Gibbons II

Candidates
Incumbent alderman Scott Waguespack (elected 2007) is running uncontested for re-election.

Candidates
Incumbent alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (elected 2015) is running uncontested for re-election. Challenger Richard Mpistolarides filed petitions, but was removed from the ballot for allegedly circulating petitions with a false address.

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but withdrew before ballot certification:
 * Gregory T. Schorsch

Candidates
The following candidate filed petitions but was removed from the ballot:
 * Eddien Enrique Gonzalez

Candidates
Incumbent alderperson Brendan Reilly (elected 2007) is running uncontested for re-election. Challenger Chris Cleary filed nominating petitions, but withdrew before ballot certification.

Results

 * Runoff

Candidates
Bennett Lawson, chief of staff to incumbent Tom Tunney and former legislative aide, is running uncontested. Challenger Nathan Bean filed nominating petitions, but was removed from the ballot for improperly filing paperwork. Bean has filed a lawsuit to challenge the Board of Election's ruling.

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Ward 47
Incumbent alderperson Matt Martin (elected 2019) is running uncontested for re-election.

Candidates
The following candidates launched campaigns but withdrew before filing nominating petitions: Endorsements
 * Seva Gandhi (dropped out in September 2022)
 * Dennis Sneyers (dropped out in November 2022)

Results

 * General election


 * Runoff

Candidates
The following candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient petition signatures:


 * Williamton "Willie" Davis