Mayor, special election
Daniel Biss is leaving to run for Congress. His resignation takes effect October 18, 2026. Voters will elect a mayor to serve the rest of his term, through May 2029. [1][2]
Mayor1 seat · announced, alphabetical
Jeff BoariniJane GroverGilo Kwesi LoganStephanie MendozaElliot OatsAnn RaineyWho’s running
These are candidates who have publicly announced. Nobody is on the ballot until they file between Oct 19 and 26, 2026 and the City Clerk certifies the ballot. Listed alphabetically by last name.
Withdrawn: Jade Carpenter, a business attorney, formed a campaign committee in July 2026 and withdrew in September. [3]
About the office
| Election | Tuesday, April 6, 2027. A primary is held February 23, 2027 only if three or more candidates file.[1] |
|---|---|
| Term | The rest of Mayor Biss’s four-year term, which runs through May 2029 — about two years.[1] |
| Why now | Under state law, a vacancy that opens before the filing period, with at least 28 months left in the term, is filled at the next municipal election.[4] |
| Until then | The City Council chooses an acting mayor from its own members at a special meeting on Oct 19, 2026. Five votes are needed.[2][5] |
| Who votes | Registered voters who live within Evanston city limits. The race is citywide, so every ward votes.[1] |
| Candidate filing | Oct 19–26, 2026, with the Evanston City Clerk, Suite 240, Morton City Hall, 909 Davis St.[1] |
| Signatures | 946 to 1,513 valid signatures of Evanston voters. That is 5% to 8% of the 18,911 ballots cast in Evanston’s 2025 election.[1] |
| To qualify | A registered Evanston voter who has lived in the city for one year before April 6, 2027, owes no debt to the City, and has no disqualifying felony conviction.[1][6] |
| The job | Evanston has a council-manager government. The mayor votes on the City Council only to break a tie and on hiring or firing the city manager.[7][8] |
How the primary works
Evanston voters adopted this system by referendum in 1992. If one or two candidates file, there is no primary and the race goes straight to the April 6 ballot. If three or more file, a primary is held on February 23. [1] Local reporting says a candidate who wins more than 50% in the primary wins outright; otherwise the top two advance to April. [9][10] That is how Daniel Biss won in 2021, when he took about 74% of the February primary vote. [11][9] The City Clerk’s page says the top two advance and doesn’t address a majority winner; we’ll update this page when the Clerk confirms the rule. The Clerk’s page also ties the primary to how many candidates file; news reports say qualify. Those differ if an objection removes a candidate.
Public financing
Mayoral candidates can opt into Evanston’s Small Donor Democracy matching-funds program. It comes with debate requirements. [1]
Write-in candidates
Write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent with the Cook County Clerk. The deadline is December 24, 2026 for the primary and February 4, 2027 for the April election. [12]
Sources
- City of Evanston, City Clerk — 2027 Special Mayoral Election — https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city_clerks_office/2025_consolidated_elections/index.php · accessed 2026-10-06
- Evanston Now — Biss calls Oct. 19 meeting to pick acting mayor — https://evanstonnow.com/biss-calls-oct-19-meeting-to-pick-acting-mayor/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- Evanston RoundTable — Jade Carpenter becomes first to exit Evanston mayoral race (Sept. 23, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/09/23/jade-carpenter-becomes-first-to-exit-evanston-mayoral-race/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- 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 · accessed 2026-10-06
- 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/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- Illinois State Board of Elections — 2027 Candidate’s Guide (via Running for Office) — https://www.elections.il.gov/RunningForOffice.aspx?MID=rOlNCTNZd9A%3D · accessed 2026-10-06
- City of Evanston — City Council — https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city_council/index.php · accessed 2026-10-06
- Evanston RoundTable — Council nixes expanding mayor’s voting power (June 3, 2025) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/06/03/council-nixes-expanding-mayors-voting-power-raises-bar-for-acting-mayor-in-new-rules/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- Evanston RoundTable — Biss announces resignation date (June 23, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/06/23/biss-announces-resignation-date/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- Evanston RoundTable — When Biss leaves for Washington, what’s next for mayor’s seat (Mar. 26, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/03/26/when-biss-leaves-for-washington-whats-next-for-mayors-seat/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- Evanston RoundTable — Early results show Biss leading in mayoral race (Feb. 23, 2021) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/02/23/early-result-show-biss-leading-in-mayoral-race/ · accessed 2026-10-06
- Illinois State Board of Elections — 2027 Election & Campaign Finance Calendar (via Running for Office) — https://www.elections.il.gov/RunningForOffice.aspx?MID=rOlNCTNZd9A%3D · accessed 2026-10-06