Susana Mendoza, the outgoing Illinois comptroller and a longtime figure in state and city politics, announced her candidacy for Chicago mayor on June 3. Mendoza criticized current Mayor Brandon Johnson during her campaign launch, saying, “Chicago has tossed mayors out of office for blizzards, corruption and incompetence. Right now, Chicago is experiencing a blizzard of incompetence. We deserve better.”
Mendoza made her announcement through a YouTube video followed by an event at Los Comales restaurant in Little Village, where she was joined by family members as well as political and business leaders including Aldermen Silvana Tabares and Ray Lopez. In her prepared remarks, Mendoza said she is entering the race to address what she described as three major crises: financial instability, public safety concerns, and declining confidence in city government. “Chicagoans feel every one of these crises,” Mendoza said. “We’re paying more for less. We don’t feel safe, and too many people no longer believe that City Hall knows how to solve our problems.”
Mendoza indicated she would pursue pro-business policies and advocate tougher stances on crime if elected mayor. She called for changes to the SAFE-T Act by stating that individuals accused of serious crimes should not be eligible for electronic monitoring: “People accused of murder, attempted murder or predatory sexual assault should not be eligible for electronic monitoring… It defies all common sense. It’s deadly dangerous, and it needs to stop.” She also said she intends to fill police vacancies and support Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.
Asked about the announcement at an unrelated press conference before Mendoza’s remarks were delivered Wednesday morning, Johnson did not comment directly on her candidacy but instead spoke about his administration’s investments in public safety and economic development: “Politics will do what it does every four years. I’m going to do what I do every day,” he said.
Mendoza addressed past controversies from previous campaigns during interviews after her announcement. She denied involvement with former Alderman Ed Burke or disgraced former Pilsen Alderman Danny Solis beyond returning their contributions: “They were accused [and] convicted of their crimes as they should have been, but I had zero to do with that,” she said.
Other candidates who have declared intentions or are rumored to run include U.S. Representative Mike Quigley; Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas; businessmen Joe Holberg and Liam Stanton; as well as Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who reportedly has significant campaign funds available compared with other contenders.