---
title: Who serves as Evanston’s mayor until the election?
url: https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/acting-mayor/
updated: 2026-10-16
source_policy: every fact carries a numbered source; [n] markers refer to the Sources list
---

[Home](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/) / [Explainers](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/) / How the acting mayor works Explainer · Published Fri Oct 16, 2026

# How the acting mayor works

More explainers

1. [Why is Evanston electing a mayor in 2027?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/why-special-election/)
2. [Will Evanston have a mayoral primary in February 2027?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/february-primary/)
3. [What does Evanston’s mayor do?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/what-does-the-mayor-do/)
4. [What’s the difference between District 65 and District 202?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/d65-vs-d202/)
5. [Can Skokie residents vote in Evanston’s school board elections?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/skokie-voters-school-boards/)
6. [What is the Oakton College board election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/oakton-college-board/)
7. [How do I vote by mail in Evanston?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/vote-by-mail/)
8. [How accessible is voting in Evanston?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/accessible-voting/)

[All explainers →](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/)

Short answer

An acting mayor chosen by the City Council from its own nine members, with five votes. The council is expected to make the pick at its regular meeting on October 26, 2026. [1][2]

## The rules

- The acting mayor must be a sitting councilmember. [3]
- Five of nine votes are needed. The council restored the five-vote rule in June 2026. [1]
- An acting mayor who keeps their council seat keeps only their council vote and has no veto. One who resigns the council seat gets the mayor’s vote and veto power. [3]
- The acting mayor serves until the mayor elected in 2027 takes office. [4][1]

## The timing

A special meeting had been set for October 19. The RoundTable reports that the mayor pro tem, Ald. Clare Kelly (1st Ward), plans to cancel it, with the appointment made at the October 26 regular meeting instead. [2]

## The last time

Evanston last had an acting mayor in 1970, Ald. Peter Jans. [4]

We will update this page after the council votes.

Related

- [Acting mayor pick moves to Oct. 26](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/acting-mayor-pick-oct-26/)
- [Why is there a special election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/why-special-election/)
- [The mayor’s race](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/)

## Sources

1. Evanston RoundTable — City Council decides five votes is enough to pick temporary mayor (June 8, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/06/08/city-council-decides-five-votes-is-enough-to-pick-temporary-mayor-when-biss-heads-to-washington/
2. Evanston RoundTable — Staff cuts front and center in City Council's first pass at 2027 budget (Oct. 13, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/10/13/evanston-city-council-2027-proposed-budget/
3. 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50, municipal vacancies (as amended by P.A. 104-434) — https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=006500050K3.1-10-50
4. Evanston Now — Biss calls Oct. 19 meeting to pick acting mayor — https://evanstonnow.com/biss-calls-oct-19-meeting-to-pick-acting-mayor/