The 2015 Chicago aldermanic elections happened on February 24, 2015, to elect the 50 Aldermen that represent Chicago in the City Council. The elections were non-partisan and if no candidate received an absolute majority, a runoff would be held between the top two finishers on April 7, 2015.
Ward boundaries had been redrawn since the previous 2011 election, to reflect the results of the 2010 United States census. The new ward map had been approved by the Chicago City Council in January 2012.
Overview Campaign 43 incumbent aldermen sought re-election. Aldermen Edward M. Burke (14th Ward), Marty Quinn (13th Ward), Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) and Harry Osterman (48th Ward) all ran unopposed in this election. Aldermen Toni Foulkes (15th Ward) and Nicholas Sposato (36th Ward) ran in different wards than those they had been incumbents of: the 16th and 38th, respectively. Incumbent aldermen Robert Fioretti (2nd Ward), James Balcer (11th Ward), Latasha Thomas (17th Ward) and Timothy Cullerton (38th Ward) did not run for re-election.
In the first round, two candidates who ran for re-election lost their seats, including Joann Thompson (who died in office, but remained on the ballot). There were runoffs in 18 wards. Six additional incumbent aldermen were defeated in runoffs.
Seat changes +WardIncumbentIncumbent statusElected aldermanRef2Bob Fioretti RetiringBrian K. Hopkins7 Gregory MitchellDefeated in runoff electionNatashia Holmes10 John PopeDefeated in runoff electionSusan Sadlowski Garza11 James BalcerRetiringPatrick Daley Thompson15Toni FoulkesRedistricted; ran successfully in 16th WardRaymond Lopez16 Joann Thompson Died in officeToni Foulkes17Latasha ThomasRetiringDavid H. Moore18Lona LaneDefeated in runoff electionDerrick Curtis24Michael ChandlerRetiringMichael Scott Jr.29Deborah L. GrahamDefeated in runoff electionChris Taliaferro31Ray SuarezDefeated in runoff electionMilly Santiago35Rey ColónDefeated in general electionCarlos Ramirez-Rosa36Nicholas SposatoRedistricted; ran successfully in 38th WardGilbert Villegas38Timothy CullertonRetiringNicholas Sposato41Mary O'Connor Defeated in runoff electionAnthony Napolitano
Election calendar Thursday, December 18, 2014 Last day for candidates for the offices of Mayor, Clerk, Treasurer and Alderman to withdraw as a candidate (not later than the date of certification of candidates for the ballot). File in the office of the Board of Election Commissioners. No name so withdrawn shall be printed upon the ballot. If a request for withdrawal is received after this date (the date for certification of candidates for the ballot), then the votes cast for the withdrawn candidate are invalid and shall not be reported by the Board. (10 ILCS 5/10-7, 5/10-15; 65 ILCS 20/21-29) Friday, December 26, 2014 Last day (by 5:00 p.m.) a person may file a notarized Declaration of Intent to be a Write-in Candidate for the February 24, 2015 Municipal General Election (not later than the 61st day before election–actual date is Thursday, December 25, 2015–moved to next business day per (10 ILCS 5/1-6; 10 ILCS 5/16-5.01) Monday, January 12, 2015 Last day for Board to have absentee ballots available for mailing to persons in the United States Service or their spouse and dependents of voting age and citizens temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States who have filed an application for ballot prior to the 45th day before the election (45 days prior to date of election–actual date is Saturday, January 10, 2015–moved to next business day per (10 ILCS 5/1-6; 10 ILCS 5/16-5.01) Thursday, January 15, 2015 First day for mailing or delivery of absentee ballot. Tuesday, January 27, 2015 Last day for regular voter registration in the office of the Board of Election Commissioners or to transfer registration to a new address for the February 24, 2015 Municipal General Election (registration may be taken up to and including the 28th day before election), with the exception of “grace period” registration and voting. (10 ILCS 5/6-29) Monday, February 9, 2015 First day for early voting at the offices of the Board and at permanent and temporary polling place locations designated by the Board (beginning the 15th day preceding the election). Early voting shall be conducted at permanent polling places between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and holidays and 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. Early voting may be also conducted at temporary polling places on days and at hours to be announced and published. (10 ILCS 5/19A-15)
North Side 1st Ward Incumbent alderman Proco Joe Moreno was reelected. He had been appointed alderman in 2010 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, and had subsequently been reelected in 2011.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefAndrew Hamilton Lawyer Proco Joe Moreno Incumbent alderman Ronda Locke Local school council representative, vice chair of the Commercial Park Advisory Council, marketing consultant Anne Shaw Former Cook County Board of Ethics Commissioner, community activist, lawyer, business owner
One candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient nominating petition signatures: Mia Lena Lopez
Endorsements
Results
2nd Ward Incumbent second-term alderman Bob Fioretti did not seek reelection, instead, opting to run (unsuccessfully) for mayor. Brian Hopkins was elected to succeed him, defeating Alyx Pattison in a runoff.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefBita Buenostro Restaurant corporate executive Brian Hopkins Chief of staff of Cook County Commissioner John P. DaleyStephen Niketopoulos Local school council representative, neighborhood president, educational television producer Alyx Pattison Attorney, former congressional aide Stacey Pfingsten Former aide to incumbent 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti Cornell Wilson Attorney and United States Marine Corps officer
Endorsements
Results
32nd Ward Incumbent second-term alderman Scott Waguespack was reelected, defeating Elise Doody-Jones, his sole challenger.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefElise Doody-Jones Former treasurer of 1st Ward First, businesswomanScott Waguespack Incumbent alderman
Endorsements
Results
40th Ward Incumbent eighth-term alderman Patrick J. O'Connor was reelected, defeating Dianne Daleiden, his sole challenger.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefDianne Daleiden Chicago Public Schools teacherPatrick J. O'Connor Incumbent alderman
Endorsements
Results
42nd Ward Incumbent second-term alderman Brendan Reilly was reelected, running unopposed.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefBrendan Reilly Incumbent alderman
Results
43rd Ward Incumbent first-term alderman Michelle Smith was reelected, defeating Caroline Vickrey in a runoff by a narrow 79 vote margin (equal to 0.54% of the votes cast in the runoff).
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefJen Kramer Director of entertainment and special events at Navy Pier Inc., former In the events coordinator for the Chicago Mayor's Office, former president of Special Olympics Chicago Michele Smith Incumbent aldermanJerry Quandt Founder of UNWIND, international marketing consultant Caroline Vickrey Lawyer
One write-in candidate filed: Steven McClellan
One candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient nominating petition signatures: Steven McClellan (subsequently ran as a write-in)
The following candidate filed nominating petitions but withdrew before ballot certification: Andrew Challenger
Endorsements
Results
44th Ward Incumbent third-term alderman Tom Tunney was reelected.
Candidates
+Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefScott Davis Community activistMark Thomas Former president and co-founder of Central Lakeview Merchants Association, board member of Local First Chicago, business owner Tom Tunney Incumbent alderman
One write-in candidate filed: Robin Cook
Endorsements
Results
46th Ward Incumbent first-term alderman James Cappleman was reelected, defeating Amy Crawford in a runoff.
Candidates
+Certified candidatesNameExperienceRef James Cappleman Incumbent alderman Amy Crawford LawyerDenice L. Davis Former Director of Community Affairs for congressman Bobby Rush and former chief of staff to Alderman Helen Shiller
Endorsements
Results
47th Ward Incumbent first-term alderman Ameya Pawar was reelected, defeating Rory Fiedler, his sole challenger.
Candidates
+Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefRory Fiedler Ameya Pawar Incumbent alderman
Endorsements
Results
48th Ward Incumbent first-term alderman Harry Osterman was reelected, running unopposed.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRef Harry Osterman Incumbent alderman
Results
49th Ward Incumbent sixth-term alderman Joe Moore was reelected, defeating Don Gordon, his sole challenger.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefDon Gordon Community organizer, candidate for 49th Ward alderman in 2007 Joe Moore Incumbent alderman
Four candidates were removed from the ballot due to insufficient nominating petition signatures or other reasons: John Beacham Connie Gates-Brown Grady A. Humphrey Nathan Benjamin "Ben" Myers
Endorsements
Results
50th Ward Incumbent first-term alderman Debra Silverstein was reelected.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefShajan M. Kuriakose Business consultantZehra Quadri Founder of ZAM's Hope Community Resource Center Debra Silverstein Incumbent alderman
Two write-in candidates filed: Hilaire Fuji Shioura Peter Sifnotis
Two candidates were removed from the ballot due to insufficient nominating petition signatures: Hilaire Fuji Shioura (subsequently ran as a write-in) Peter George Sifnotis (subsequently ran as a write-in)
Endorsements
Results
Northwest Side 26th Ward Incumbent alderman Roberto Maldonado was reelected. He had been first appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2009, and had been subsequently reelected in 2011.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefAdam Corona 45th Ward Streets and Sanitation superintendent, business ownerJuanita Irizarry Statewide housing coordinator for the Office of the Governor Roberto Maldonado Incumbent alderman
Endorsements
Results
30th Ward Incumbent third-term alderman Ariel Reboyras was reelected, running unopposed on the ballot, facing only a write-in opponent.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRef Ariel Reboyras Incumbent alderman
One write-in candidate filed: Edgar Esparza
One candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient nominating petition signatures: Edgar Espparza (subsequently ran as a write-in)
The following candidate filed nominating petitions but withdrew before ballot certification: Walter Zarnecki
Results
31st Ward Incumbent sixth-term alderman Ray Suarez unsuccessfully sought reelection. He was defeated in a runoff by Milly Santiago.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefIrma Cornier Belmont Cragin neighborhood event organizer, employee of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention CenterMilly Santiago former chief of staff for Alderman Billy Ocasio, bilingual clerk for Chicago Public Schools in the Department of Bilingual Education, former member of the United States Army Reserves, television reporter for TelemundoSean Starr Lawyer and university professor Ray Suarez Incumbent alderman
Endorsements
Results
33rd Ward Incumbent alderman Deb Mell was reelected to a first full term. Mell had been appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2013.
Candidates +Certified candidatesNameExperienceRefTim Meegan Member of Albany Park Neighborhood Council, teacher at Roosevelt High School Deb Mell Incumbent aldermanAnnisa Wanat Member of the local school council at Albany Park Multicultural Academy
One candidate was removed from the ballot due to insufficient nominating petition signatures: Tyler Solario
Endorsements
Results
35th Ward