Only if three or more candidates for mayor file. With one or two candidates, the race goes straight to the April 6, 2027 ballot. [1]
The rule
Evanston voters adopted this rule by referendum on November 3, 1992. [1] If a primary is needed, it is held Tuesday, February 23, 2027. [1][2]
Dates that decide it
- October 19–26, 2026: mayoral candidates file with the City Clerk. Each needs 946 to 1,513 valid signatures. [1]
- November 2, 2026: objections to nomination papers are due. [2][1]
- December 17, 2026: last day to certify the ballot and for a candidate to withdraw. By then we will know whether a primary will be held. [2]
What a primary does
The City Clerk’s page says the top two primary finishers advance to April. Local reporting says a candidate who wins more than 50% in the primary wins outright, as Daniel Biss did in 2021 with about 74%. [1][3][4][5] The Clerk’s page does not address a majority winner; we will update this page when the Clerk confirms the rule.
One more nuance: the Clerk’s page ties the primary to how many candidates file, while news reports say qualify. Those differ if an objection removes a candidate. [1]