Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza has launched her campaign for mayor of Chicago, positioning herself as a fiscally conservative Democrat capable of tackling the city's financial and public safety challenges. Mendoza, who is 54, declared her candidacy in June and is considered a top contender in the upcoming mayoral race, scheduled for February 23, 2027.
Mendoza aims to unseat incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose approval ratings have been low, with a recent University of Chicago poll indicating only 13.6 percent of residents want him to seek reelection. The same poll showed 47 percent of voters were enthusiastic about Mendoza's potential candidacy.
During her decade as Illinois state comptroller, Mendoza highlighted her record of budget cuts and fiscal management. Her campaign stated that she reduced her office's budget by 10 percent for six years, saving taxpayers over $18.6 million and returning $4.3 million in unused funds. Additionally, her office paid down $17 billion in outstanding bills, improved vendor payment times, increased the state's Rainy Day Fund, and contributed to 10 credit-rating upgrades.
Chicago has faced fiscal difficulties during Mayor Johnson's term. He recently announced a plan to refinance approximately $500 million in city debt, aiming to close budget shortfalls without layoffs. Mendoza, however, has been critical of the mayor's leadership, labeling it a "blizzard of incompetence" and asserting that Chicago deserves significantly better leadership.
Mendoza's previous mayoral bid in 2019 saw her finish fifth in a field of 14 candidates. During that campaign, she faced scrutiny over her past associations with aldermen Ed Burke and Danny Solis. Burke was convicted in 2023 on racketeering, bribery, and extortion charges. Solis cooperated with authorities in the case against Burke after facing his own bribery charge. While Mendoza returned donations from Burke, critics raised concerns about her relationships with the aldermen.
Mendoza addressed these past ties, stating that many elected officials have worked with Burke over the years and that voters are more concerned with issues like neighborhood violence and rising property taxes. "I will be the mayor who focuses on the real issues that people care about because nobody really cares about that nonsense," she remarked.
Her campaign anticipates Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will be a significant rival. Giannoulias, who leads in fundraising and has strong union support, is reportedly running for both reelection as secretary of state and for mayor simultaneously.
Mendoza identified addressing Chicago's financial crisis and public safety as her top priorities if elected. 
