Here’s who each alderman is supporting in Chicago’s mayoral election

Updated on Feb. 20

Early voting has already begun for Chicago’s mayoral race, as the first round of the election is set to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 28. With less than a month to go, candidates are hoping local endorsements will help boost their image in the nine-person race. Currently, 28 of Chicago’s 50 City Council members have endorsed candidates in the anticipated race, according to Chicago political consultant Frank Calabrese.

Chicago mayor candidate Paul Vallas @PaulVallas was endorsed by 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly @AldReilly. I count 28 aldermen endorsing for #chimayor23. Lori Lightfoot has 8 endorsements, Brandon Johnson has 7, Chuy Garcia has 5, & Vallas has 4. #twill pic.twitter.com/EOcI2jDWMV

— Frank Calabrese (@FrankCalabrese) February 14, 2023

Lori Lightfoot: 8 total endorsements

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign has been tumultuous, as the other candidates have criticized her first term in office on seemingly all fronts. Crime and police vacancies are main concerns and many in Chicago have lost their patience with Lightfoot. But that hasn’t stopped the incumbent mayor from securing dozens of unions and elected official endorsements, including the more City Council nods than any of the other candidates so far.

The mayor’s City Council supporters include:

Michelle Harris (8th ward)

Roberto Maldonado (26th ward)

Walter Burnett Jr. (27th ward)

Jason Ervin (28th ward)

Chris Taliaferro (29th ward)

Scott Waguespack (32nd ward)

Emma Mitts (37th ward)

James Cappleman (46th ward)

Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th Ward) initially endorsed Lightfoot, but withdrew his support after the mayor failed to reach out after Curtis accidently shot himself while cleaning his gun.

Brandon Johnson: 7 total endorsements

Cook County Commissioner (1st District) Brandon Johnson has collected a long list of endorsements, including the Chicago Teacher’s Union, SEIU Local 73 and six City Council Members.

These aldermen include:

Daniel LaSpata (1st ward)

Pat Dowell (3rd ward)

Jeanette Taylor (20th ward)

Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th ward)

Rossana Rodríguez-Sanchez (33rd ward)

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th ward)

Matt Martin (47th ward)

The Dowell endorsement is especially notable as up to that point, she was one of Lightfoot’s biggest allies in the City Council.

Jesús “Chuy” García: 5 total endorsements

Several unions, including gas workers, engineers and rail workers organizations, have endorsed current U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. This is García’s second attempt at City Hall, and the progressive’s long history in Chicago has garnered him the support of five City Council members.

These aldermen include:

Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th ward)

Michael Rodriguez (22nd ward)

Felix Cardona Jr. (31st ward)

Gilbert Villegas (36th ward)

Andre Vasquez Jr. (40th ward).

Paul Vallas: 4 total endorsements

Former City budget director and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools Paul Vallas has been endorsed by three city council members. Most prominently, 44th ward Ald. Tom Tunney threw in his support for Vallas.

“I urge all Chicagoans who care about public safety, public education and public finances to join me,” Tunney said in a statement. “As a person who is socially progressive and fiscally responsible, the platform that Paul Vallas has for Chicago most closely aligns with what I believe, both as a member of the City Council for two decades and as a small business owner for 40 years.”

In addition to representing the Boystown and Wrigleyville neighborhoods, Tunney currently serves as Lori Lightfoot’s vice mayor. Lightfoot selected him after he endorsed Lightfoot in her 2019 bid, but he has since grown discontent with her decisions during her term. He considered making his own bid for mayor this cycle, and even gathered signatures in November. However, Tunney decided to not only stay out of the mayoral race, but also retire after serving 20 years as alderman. The alderman is likely hoping for an appointment in Vallas’ administration should he win on February 28th.

In addition to Tunney, other aldermanic endorsements include:

Brian Hopkins (2nd ward)

Anthony Napolitano (41st ward)

Brendan Reilly (42nd ward)

The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police has also endorsed Vallas.

Sophia King: 2 total endorsements

In addition to endorsing herself for mayor, Sophia King has the support of southside Ald. David Moore of the 17th Ward.

Willie Wilson: 1 total endorsement

Ald. Raymond Lopez, who represents Chicago’s 15th ward, endorsed businessman Willie Wilson for Mayor in early January. Lopez was the first openly gay Mexican-American elected in Illinois and has served two terms as alderman. Earlier in the race, Lopez declared himself as a candidate but dropped out in November because of lackluster fundraising numbers. He threw in his support for Wilson because of previous experience working with the businessman.

“He will be a mayor that respects and unites ethnic neighborhoods all across Chicago,” Lopez said about Wilson.

Roderick Sawyer: 1 total endorsement

The only ward that supports Roderick Sawyer for mayor of Chicago is the 6th, which he currently represents.

Disclaimer: Brandon Johnson previously hosted a weekend program, “Sunday Mornings with Brandon Johnson,” on WCPT 820AM prior to his mayoral campaign. Rickey Hendon, a campaign advisor for Dr. Willie Wilson, previously hosted a weekend program, “The Rickey Hendon Show,” on WCPT prior to Wilson’s campaign. And Edwin Eisendrath, host of “The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath” on WCPT, endorsed U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García in the race. None of these influenced and will not influence Heartland Signal’s editorial process in covering the 2023 Chicago mayoral election.