Ward Committeepeople and Township Committeepeople are political party officials who serve many standard committeemen duties on behalf of their political party in Cook County, Illinois.
Structure and election The city of Chicago, the largest municipality in Cook County, elects committeepeople (known as "committeemen" until 2018) from each of its 50 wards. Each of the 30 suburban civil townships in Cook County also elect committeepeople from each township. Each established party in Cook County, currently Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians, elects its own committeeperson.
Elections for Chicago ward committeepeople coincide with the primaries for presidential candidates, while elections for township committeepeople coincide with primaries for gubernatorial candidates.
Roles The positions are unpaid, with responsibilities that include voter registration, community forums, election materials, and election operations. In Chicago, the committeepeople are responsible for producing smooth political processes during the elections in their wards, which includes attempting to produce high voter turnout.
Committeepeople are voting members in the political organization of their party in the County. This role gives them authority on behalf of the party to select replacements for some vacated political posts such as United States Representative and state legislators. Replacements for some other vacancies are selected through other processes: vacated United States Senate posts are appointed by the Illinois Governor and vacated Chicago City Council posts are appointed by the Mayor of Chicago.
Operationally in Chicago, the committeeperson plays an important role in ward politics. The post of alderman and committeeperson are often closely linked: sometimes the former controls the latter and sometimes the same person holds both posts. In many cases, the committeeman also has influence over the doling out of jobs, favors, and services around the ward. Sometimes a committeeperson accumulates sufficient influence to place their loyalists into political positions outside of the ward. However, in recent years, the position has lost its power and luster due to the decline in patronage hiring in local Illinois government.
Cook County Democratic Party As of August 2025.
ConstituencyNameStartOther Office(s) Held1st WardLaura Yepez2024None2nd WardTim Egan2016None3rd WardPat Dowell2008Member of the Chicago City Council (2007–present)4th WardToni Preckwinkle1992Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party (2018–present)President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (2010–present)Member of the Chicago City Council (1991–2010)5th WardLeslie Hairston2000Member of the Chicago City Council (1999–2023)6th WardElgie Sims2024Member of the Illinois Senate (2018–present)Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2012–2018) 7th WardGreg Mitchell2016Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)8th WardMichelle Harris2008Member of the Chicago City Council (2006–present)9th WardAnthony Beale2000Member of the Chicago City Council (1999–present)10th WardPeter Chico2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2023–present)11th WardJohn Daley1980Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1992–present)Member of the Illinois Senate (1989–1992)Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1985–1989)12th WardTheresa Mah2024Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2017–present)13th WardMarty Quinn2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–present)14th WardAarón Ortíz2020Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present)15th WardRay Lopez2012Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)16th WardStephanie Coleman2016Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)17th WardDavid Moore2016Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)18th WardDerrick Curtis2016Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)19th WardMatt O'Shea2012Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–present)20th WardMattie Hunter2020Member of the Illinois Senate (2003–present)21st WardHoward Brookins2004Member of the Chicago City Council (2003–2023)22nd WardMike Rodriguez2016Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)23rd WardSilvana Tabares2020Member of the Chicago City Council (2018–present)Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2018)24th WardMonique Scott2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2022–present)25th WardByron Sigcho-Lopez2020Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)26th WardJessie Fuentes2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2023–present)27th WardWalter Burnett2013Vice Mayor of Chicago (2023–2025)Member of the Chicago City Council (1995–2025)28th WardJason Ervin2012Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–present)29th WardChris Taliaferro2016Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)30th WardRuth Cruz2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2023–present)31st WardFelix Cardona2020Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)32nd WardScott Waguespack2012Member of the Chicago City Council (2007–present)33nd WardRossana Rodríguez2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)34th WardBill Conway2024 Member of the Chicago City Council (2023–present)35th WardCarlos Ramirez-Rosa2022General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District (2025–present)Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–2025)36th WardGil Villegas2020Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)37th WardEmma Mitts 2004Member of the Chicago City Council (2000–present)38th WardRob Martwick2017 Member of the Illinois Senate (2019–present)Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2019)39th WardRam Villivalam2019Member of the Illinois Senate (2019–present)40th WardMaggie O'Keefe2020None41st WardJohn Hanley2024None42nd WardBrendan Reilly2008President pro tempore of the Chicago City Council (2019–2023)Vice Mayor of Chicago (2015–2019)Member of the Chicago City Council (2007–present)43rd WardLucy Moog2016None44th WardBennett Lawson2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2023–present)45th WardMichael Rabbitt2024 None46th WardSean Tenner2018None47th WardPaul Rosenfeld 2015None48th WardLeni Manaa-Hoppenworth2024Member of the Chicago City Council (2023–present)49th WardKelly Cassidy2019Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2011–present)50th WardBruce Leon2024NoneBarrington TownshipRobert SteffenMember of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal BoardBerwyn TownshipRobert LoveroMayor of BerwynBloom TownshipMonica GordonCook County Clerk (2024–present)Bremen TownshipVernard AlsberryHazelcrest Village PresidentCalumet TownshipBob RitaMember of the Illinois House of Representatives (2003–present)Cicero TownshipLarry DominickElk Grove TownshipTed MasonNoneEvanstonDaniel Biss2024Mayor of Evanston (2021-present)Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2011-2013)Member of the Illinois Senate (2013-2019)Hanover TownshipAdriana Barriga-GreenLemont TownshipKevin AmeriksLeyden TownshipBarrett PedersenMayor of Franklin ParkLyons TownshipSteven LandekMember of the Illinois Senate (2011–present)Maine TownshipLaura MurphyMember of the Illinois Senate (2015–present)New Trier TownshipDean MaragosNoneNiles TownshipJosina MoritaNorthfield TownshipTracy Katz MuhlNoneNorwood Park TownshipFrank Avino NoneOak Park TownshipDon HarmonPresident of the Illinois Senate (2020–present)President pro tempore of the Illinois Senate (2011–2019)Member of the Illinois Senate (2003–present)Orland TownshipBeth McElroy KirkwoodPalatine TownshipMaria GaloNonePalos TownshipJames GleffeNoneProviso TownshipChris WelchSpeaker of the Illinois House of Representatives (2021–present)Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–present)Rich TownshipCalvin JordanRich Township Highway Inspector, Trustee of Rich Township Schools, and member of Village of Hazel Crest Economic Development BoardRiver Forest TownshipCathy AdduciRiverside TownshipMicheal ZalewskiMember of the Illinois House of Representatives (2008–2023)Schaumburg TownshipMike CudzikNoneStickney TownshipVincent CainkarNoneThornton TownshipNapoleon HarrisMember of the Illinois Senate (2013–present)Wheeling TownshipMark WalkerMember of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present, 2009–2011)Worth TownshipPatricia MurphyNone
Cook County Republican Party As of December 2024.
ConstituencyNameStartOther Office(s) Held1st WardVacant2nd WardCJ Gallo2024None3rd WardAlan Rasho20244th WardPaul McKinley2024None5th WardTyler Shasteen20246th WardCharles Earl Williams20247th WardDave Lottich20248th WardLynn FrancoNone9th WardWayland JohnsonNone10th WardYolanda Deanda202411th WardVacant12th WardVacantNone13th WardHoracio Aguilera202414th WardVacant15th WardRosa PritchettNone16th WardLeonard Griffin202417th WardVacant18th WardDevin Jones202019th WardDeclan Smith2024None20th WardMaurissa Langon202421st WardRonald Fields202422nd WardLupe Castillo202423rd WardCarlos Alvarez202424th WardSteven Valtierra202425th WardVacant26th WardVacant27th WardSteve Boulton2024Former Chair of the Chicago Republican Party28th WardTamiko Holt202429th WardWalter Adamczyk30th WardEdward Karecki31st WardRamona Bonilla-Anaiel32nd WardCairy Littlejohn202433rd WardJason Proctor202434th WardChristopher Myers202435th WardGladys Tanchez202436th WardVacant37th WardVelda Brunner202438th WardChuck HernandezChair of the Chicago Republican Party39th WardBarry Bebart40th WardGigi Gavron2024None41st WardAmmie Kessem42nd WardKurt Fujio202443rd WardBrian Kasal44th WardLaura Kotelman45th WardEstela Richards202446th WardEvan Kasal202447th WardGary Mandell202448th WardBeth Ruegg202449th WardJames Hazard50th WardDaniel Kelley2024Barrington TownshipPeter Kopsaftis2020NoneBerwyn TownshipVacantBloom TownshipLisa KristinaBremen TownshipMax SolomonNoneCalumet TownshipVacantCicero TownshipSandra TomschinNoneElk Grove TownshipEd LapinskiNoneEvanstonSean MatlisNoneHanover TownshipMichael BaumerStreamwood Village TrusteeLemont TownshipMichael ShackelLemont Township TrusteeLeyden TownshipBrad StephensMember of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present)Village President of Rosemont (2007–present)Lyons TownshipTerry CarrNoneMaine TownshipJim StinsonNew Trier TownshipJulie ChoNoneNiles TownshipMark Albers2024NoneNorthfield TownshipT. J. BrownNoneNorwood Park TownshipGeorge Ballis NoneOak Park TownshipJohn BergholzNoneOrland TownshipNonePalatine TownshipAaron Del MarPalatine Township Highway CommissionerPalos TownshipSean MorrisonChair of the Cook County Republican Party (2016–present)Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (2015–present)Proviso TownshipMike CorriganNoneRich TownshipEric WallaceNoneRiver Forest TownshipTom CroninNoneRiverside TownshipJay ReyesNoneSchaumburg TownshipJoeseph FolisiNoneStickney TownshipNatasa DzolicMember of Stickney, Illinois Parks & Recreation Advisory CommissionThornton TownshipTim DeYoungWheeling TownshipKathy PennerWheeling Township SupervisorWorth TownshipShaun MurphyNone
Notes
External links Cook County Directory of Elected Officials Green Party Ward and Precinct Committeepersons