---
title: Stephanie Mendoza — Mayor of Evanston
url: https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/stephanie-mendoza/
updated: 2026-10-06
source_policy: every fact carries a numbered source; [n] markers refer to the Sources list
---

[Home](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/) / [Mayor of Evanston](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/) / Stephanie Mendoza

Photo: Mendoza campaign

 Mayor of Evanston · Announced · not yet filed

# Stephanie Mendoza

Evanston City Clerk since 2021. Previously a prevention specialist at Connections for the Homeless. [1][2]

## At a glance

- Declared — August 5, 2026.[1]
- Campaign committee — Friends of Stephanie Mendoza (ISBE ID 41344).[3]
- Occupation — Evanston City Clerk, a full-time position. Also co-owns an Evanston drywall, painting and plaster business with her husband.[1][2]
- Public office — City Clerk since 2021, the city’s first Latina elected official. Because the Clerk’s office runs municipal elections, she must recuse herself from administering this one.[1]
- In Evanston — Moved from Tennessee in 2010. Lives in the 2nd Ward.[1][4]
- Age — 33 (August 2026)[1]
- Education — B.A. in political science, Loyola University Chicago, 2017; first-generation college graduate.[2][1]
- Prior runs — 2021, City Clerk: won an open race against six write-in candidates. 2025, City Clerk: reelected; the only candidate on the ballot.[1][5]
- Endorsements — None announced as of Oct 6, 2026.
## Background

Before becoming clerk, Mendoza worked as a prevention specialist at Connections for the Homeless and as director of community outreach for Evanston Latinos, where she is a past president. She also worked in Early Intervention services and in youth advocacy at the Moran Center. [2][1][4] Her campaign says that as clerk she centralized citywide records management, restored local Vital Records services and oversaw the City’s FOIA compliance. [4]

## Stated priorities

From the campaign’s website or announcement release. Listed, not evaluated.

- A city “where everyone can afford to live and afford to stay” [2]
- “High quality city services for everyone — no matter the ward” [2]
- A budget that “reflects our values” while being “fiscally responsible” [2]
- “Trump-proof our City and protect our neighbors” [2]

## Record

Facts from public records, campaign filings and published news reports, each checked against its primary source. Same categories and the same review for every candidate. Listed, not evaluated. Last reviewed Tue Oct 6, 2026.

### Campaign finance

- 2020–2025: Federal Election Commission records list four contributions from Mendoza between March 2020 and April 2025 totaling $3,877, counting each contribution routed through ActBlue once and excluding tips to ActBlue; they include $3,850 to Schakowsky for Congress in 2021 and 2025.[6]
- 2020–2021: Mendoza contributed $2,500 to Mendoza for Clerk on Nov. 10, 2020 and $480 on April 7, 2021.[7]
- 2021–2025: Illinois State Board of Elections records list four itemized contributions from Mendoza to other Illinois political committees between October 2021 and February 2025, totaling $1,227.95: Friends for Anna Valencia ($500), Friends of Josina Morita ($250), Friends of Tom Suffredin ($250) and Personal PAC ($227.95).[8]
- 2022–2026: Mendoza for Clerk, her City Clerk campaign committee, filed six quarterly reports after their statutory due dates — those for the first three quarters of 2022 (228, 137 and 43 calendar days late), the second quarter of 2023 (45), the third quarter of 2025 (90) and the first quarter of 2026 (91) — and each of the six reported $0 in receipts.[9][10]
- 2024–2025: Mendoza for Clerk reported three contributions of $1,000 or more on large-contribution (A-1) reports after the statutory deadline: $1,500 received April 18, 2024 (reported July 15, 2024, 81 calendar days late) and two $1,000 contributions received March 9, 2025 (reported March 30, 2025, 19 calendar days late).[11][12]
- 2025–2026: As of Oct. 6, 2026, the State Board of Elections' list of unpaid fines showed $3,500 due from Mendoza for Clerk: two $1,000 fines imposed Dec. 2, 2025 for A-1 reporting in the period ending March 31, 2025 (listed as 14 days late) and a $1,500 fine imposed June 2, 2026 for its quarterly report for the period ending Sept. 30, 2025 (listed as 57 days late); the list does not show whether an appeal is pending.[13]
- Jul 2026: On July 16, 2026, after the committee's chair and treasurer resigned, Mendoza for Clerk filed an amended statement of organization listing Mendoza as both chair and treasurer, which the Election Code permits (10 ILCS 5/9-2); the filing does not state why the officers resigned.[14][15]
- Aug 2026: On Aug. 7, 2026, Mendoza formed her mayoral committee, Friends of Stephanie Mendoza (ISBE ID 41344), with two other individuals as chair and treasurer.[16]
- Oct 2026: Friends of Stephanie Mendoza's first quarterly report, covering Aug. 7 – Sept. 30, 2026 and filed Oct. 6, 2026, listed $10,440.66 in receipts, including a $1,580.96 transfer from Mendoza for Clerk, $348.26 in expenditures and $10,092.40 on hand.[17][16]
- Oct 2026: Of $6,990 in itemized individual contributions that Friends of Stephanie Mendoza reported for Aug. 7 – Sept. 30, 2026, $4,370 (62.5%) came from Evanston ZIP codes and none from out-of-state addresses.[18]

### Public office

- 2021–2025: She took office as Evanston City Clerk on May 10, 2021, and was re-elected April 1, 2025 over a write-in candidate.[19][20]
- Aug 2021: On Aug. 9, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance 76-O-21, 8–1, giving the City Clerk rather than the City Manager the power to appoint deputy clerks.[21]
- Jun 2022: On June 27, 2022, on her recommendation, the City Council approved Resolution 40-R-22 on its consent agenda, which made the City Clerk the city's primary FOIA officer and kept separate FOIA officers for the Police and Law departments.[22][23]
- Apr 2024: She was one of five nominees the Cook County Democratic Party considered to replace the late Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough on the November 2024 ballot; the party chose Monica Gordon.[24]
- Sep 2024: On the recommendation of the city's Compensation Committee, which also proposed raises of about 25% for the mayor and council members, the City Council adopted Ordinance 73-O-24, 7–2, on Sept. 9, 2024, setting the City Clerk's salary for the 2025–29 term at $81,000 plus an annual cost-of-living adjustment, up from $64,120; state law requires such salaries to be fixed at least 180 days before the term begins.[25][26][27]
- Nov 2024: On Nov. 6, 2024, she and a student intern conducted the ballot-order lotteries that state law assigns to the official with whom candidates file, which must be held within 9 days after filing closes and be open to the public; they drew numbered balls blind from an opaque box with observers present. In the 2nd Ward race, in which her sister was a candidate, her sister was listed first and finished third of three; no objections to candidate filings were made that cycle.[28][29][20][30]
- Mar 2025: From March 18 to 22, 2025, she, a deputy clerk and the deputy city manager attended the Smart City Summit & Expo in Taiwan during the first week of early voting for the April 1, 2025 election, in which her only opponent was a write-in candidate; the city said organizers covered the "vast majority" of travel costs and that "the total anticipated expenses for all three staff members is less than $1,000," and the RoundTable reported that the election is administered by the Cook County Clerk's Office.[31]
- Apr 2025: The Chicago Tribune reported that she presented at the Cook County Democratic Party's April 16, 2025 pre-slating as a candidate for the Board of Review seat then held by Samantha Steele; the record reviewed does not show whether she pursued the seat further.[32]
- Aug 2026: The RoundTable reported on Aug. 5, 2026 that she will have to recuse herself from administering the 2027 election because the mayor's seat is the only city office on the ballot; state law bars a candidate from serving on the electoral board that hears objections in her own race and gives her seat to the council member with the second-longest service (10 ILCS 5/10-9).[33][34]

### Property and taxes

- Jun 2022: She and a second owner bought the two-unit building at 1806 Lake St., Evanston, for $499,500 by a warranty deed executed June 20, 2022 and recorded July 14, 2022, with a $457,325 mortgage.[35][36]

### Legal and regulatory

Nothing found in the records reviewed.

### Statements and conduct

- Feb 2025: In a RoundTable candidate questionnaire she wrote that "residents must consider whether they support increased staffing for FOIA, even if it requires a higher budget allocation or potential tax increases."[37]
- Mar 2025: The Evanston RoundTable reported in March 2025 that Mendoza was listed as an endorser of Mayor Daniel Biss's 2025 re-election campaign, in which Jeff Boarini was his opponent.[38]
- Aug 2026: Her campaign announcement said: "As Mayor, I will be laser focused on making Evanston a place where everyone can afford to live and afford to stay. I will demand high quality City services for everyone — no matter the ward. I will ensure that our budget reflects our values and we invest in our future, while being fiscally responsible. Finally, I will continue the work to Trump-proof our City and protect our neighbors."[33]

Records reviewed for every candidate

Illinois State Board of Elections campaign-finance filings; City of Evanston, District 65 and park-district meeting records and payments; Cook County Assessor property and exemption records; Cook County recorded documents; federal and state court databases; Illinois professional-license and attorney-registration records; the candidate’s own websites and public social media; and Evanston RoundTable, Evanston Now, Daily Northwestern and other news archives. Property-tax exemption records are not yet shown for any candidate; they will be added for all candidates at the same time, once each can be confirmed from the same public tax-bill records.

Campaign links

- [stephanieformayor.com ↗](https://stephanieformayor.com/)
Also running · Mayor

- [Jeff Boarini](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/jeff-boarini/)
- [Jane Grover](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/jane-grover/)
- [Gilo Kwesi Logan](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/gilo-logan/)
- [Stephanie Mendoza](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/stephanie-mendoza/)
- [Elliot Oats](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/elliot-oats/)
- [Ann Rainey](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/ann-rainey/)

How this profile is made

Profiles use the same sections, in the same order, for every candidate. Facts come from the candidate’s own campaign materials, official records and published news reports, and each one is footnoted. Positions on specific city plans and votes — such as Envision Evanston 2045 — will be covered for every candidate together in “On the issues.” Candidates can submit information or corrections through the [About page](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/about/#candidates).

## Sources

1. Evanston RoundTable — City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza launches mayoral campaign (Aug. 5, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/08/05/city-clerk-stephanie-mendoza-launches-mayoral-campaign/
2. Evanston Now — Mendoza, Evanston city clerk, to run for mayor (Aug. 5, 2026) — https://evanstonnow.com/mendoza-evanston-city-clerk-to-run-for-mayor/
3. Illinois State Board of Elections — Friends of Stephanie Mendoza (committee 41344) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=GndNYWjrWd%2fmy8aorKqgpA%3d%3d
4. Stephanie Mendoza campaign website — https://stephanieformayor.com/
5. Cook County Clerk — April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election, official results — https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/official-results_040125.pdf
6. Federal Election Commission — Individual contributions: Mendoza, Stephanie, Evanston, IL, 2019–2026 (accessed Oct. 6, 2026) — https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=mendoza%2C+stephanie&contributor_city=evanston&contributor_state=IL&two_year_transaction_period=2020&two_year_transaction_period=2022&two_year_transaction_period=2024&two_year_transaction_period=2026
7. Illinois State Board of Elections — Committee Detail: Mendoza for Clerk, ID 36316, Q4 2020 and Q2 2021 reports (accessed Oct. 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=36316
8. Illinois State Board of Elections — Contributions search, all contributions (Last Name "Mendoza," First Name "Stephanie"; also Last Name "Stephanie") (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ContributionSearchByAllContributions.aspx
9. Illinois State Board of Elections — Committee Detail: Mendoza for Clerk, ID 36316, filed reports (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=36316
10. Illinois General Assembly — 10 ILCS 5/9-10, Election Code (current text) — https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K9-10.htm
11. Illinois State Board of Elections — Committee Detail: Mendoza for Clerk, ID 36316, A-1 reports filed July 15, 2024 and March 30, 2025 (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=36316
12. Illinois General Assembly — 10 ILCS 5/9-10(c), Election Code (current text) — https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K9-10.htm
13. Illinois State Board of Elections — Fines Due and Owing (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/UnpaidFines.aspx
14. Illinois State Board of Elections — Committee Detail: Mendoza for Clerk, ID 36316, officers and D-1 amendment received July 16, 2026 (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=36316
15. Illinois General Assembly — 10 ILCS 5/9-2, Election Code (current text) — https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K9-2.htm
16. Illinois State Board of Elections — Committee Detail: Friends of Stephanie Mendoza, ID 41344 (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=GndNYWjrWd%2fmy8aorKqgpA%3d%3d
17. Illinois State Board of Elections — Friends of Stephanie Mendoza, ID 41344, D-2 Quarterly Report, Aug 7 – Sep 30, 2026 (filed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/D2Quarterly.aspx?id=yjQzBcYIAdWWKVS49LjQHQ%3d%3d
18. Illinois State Board of Elections — Friends of Stephanie Mendoza, ID 41344, D-2 Quarterly Report, Aug. 7 – Sept. 30, 2026 (filed Oct. 6, 2026) — https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/D2Quarterly.aspx?id=yjQzBcYIAdWWKVS49LjQHQ%3d%3d
19. Evanston RoundTable — New Council, Clerk Sworn In (May 10, 2021) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/05/10/new-council-clerk-sworn-in/
20. Evanston RoundTable — Final election results: Mayor, clerk and City Council (Apr 1, 2025; updated Apr 23, 2025) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/04/01/live-election-results-mayor-clerk-and-city-council/
21. City of Evanston — City Council minutes (Aug 9, 2021) — https://cityofevanston.civicweb.net/document/58398/
22. City of Evanston — City Council minutes (Jun 27, 2022) — https://cityofevanston.civicweb.net/document/79048/
23. City of Evanston — Rules Committee packet, Resolution 40-R-22 (Jun 6, 2022) — https://cityofevanston.civicweb.net/document/76349/
24. Chicago Sun-Times — Cook County Democratic leaders choose Monica Gordon to run for Cook County Clerk (Apr 26, 2024) — https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2024/04/26/cook-county-democratic-party-monica-gordon-cook-county-clerk-nominee-november-election
25. City of Evanston — City Council minutes (Sep 9, 2024) — https://cityofevanston.civicweb.net/document/406009/
26. Evanston RoundTable — City Council will consider hiking elected officials' pay next term (Jul 25, 2024) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/07/25/in-august-city-council-will-consider-bumping-elected-officials-pay-next-term/
27. Illinois General Assembly — 65 ILCS 5/3.1-50-10, Illinois Municipal Code (current text) — https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/006500050K3.1-50-10.htm
28. Evanston RoundTable — City's 2025 ballot is set after lottery drawings (Nov 6, 2024) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/11/06/2025-elections-citys-ballot-is-set-after-lottery-drawings/
29. Evanston RoundTable — 2025 elections: Mendoza steps into 2nd Ward race, Rosinski backs Davis in 7th (Oct 17, 2024) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/10/17/2025-elections-mendoza-steps-into-2nd-ward-race-rosinski-backs-davis-in-7th/
30. Illinois General Assembly — 10 ILCS 5/10-6.2, Election Code (current text) — https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K10-6.2.htm
31. Evanston RoundTable — Evanston officials visit Taiwan for Smart City Expo (Mar 20, 2025) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/03/20/evanston-city-officials-taiwan-travel/
32. Chicago Tribune — Tangled rivalries complicate campaigns for Cook County property tax offices (Apr 16, 2025) — https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/tangled-rivalries-campaigns-for-cook-county-offices/
33. Evanston RoundTable — City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza launches mayoral campaign (Aug 5, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/08/05/city-clerk-stephanie-mendoza-launches-mayoral-campaign/
34. Illinois General Assembly — 10 ILCS 5/10-9, Election Code (current text) — https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K10-9.htm
35. Cook County Clerk — Recordings for PIN 10-13-419-004-0000, warranty deed 2219506226 and mortgage 2219506227 (recorded Jul 14, 2022) — https://crs.cookcountyclerkil.gov/Search/ResultByPin?id1=10134190040000
36. Cook County Assessor — Property details, 1806 Lake St. (accessed Oct 6, 2026) — https://www.cookcountyassessor.com/pin/10134190040000
37. Evanston RoundTable — City Clerk: Stephanie Mendoza (Feb 19, 2025) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/02/19/city-clerk-stephanie-mendoza/
38. Evanston RoundTable — Mayoral endorsements: How Biss and Boarini stack up (Mar 18, 2025) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/03/18/endorsements-in-evanston-mayoral-election/