A Visual Guide to the 2023 - 2027 Chicago City Council

Democratic Socialist and former Friends of the Parks employee won a slim majority to avoid a runoff for reelection. Wants to put surveillance cameras on CTA buses and other city property to catch -- and ticket -- drivers blocking bike lanes, crosswalks, loading zones.

Former director of the Illinois Coalition to End Homelessness and ex-chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner John Daley. Has run unopposed in both reelection campaigns. Staunch opponent of Bally’s casino deal and downtown NASCAR race. Backed Paul Vallas for mayor.

A big winner in Council reorganization after her pivotal endorsement of Johnson, who chose her to chair the powerful Finance Committee. Her short-lived Democratic primary campaign for Illinois secretary of state preceded a failed bid to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush. Former city planner and community activist.

Insurance agent and three-term state representative is first openly gay Black man in Council history. Backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to replace Sophia King, who gave up seat to run for mayor.

Senior organizer for the Inner-City Muslim Action Network won runoff to replace retiring Ald. Leslie Hairston. The son of a Chicago police officer, he led groups that spurred the creation of the city’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and oversight body that, among other things, helps choose the city’s police superintendent.

St. James Community Church pastor and Rainbow PUSH field director won runoff with support from the Chicago Teachers Union, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Mayor GnJohnson and former Ald. Roderick Sawyer, who stepped down to run for mayor. Son of a Chicago Public Schools teacher and staffer.

Former accountant and financial analyst at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ran unopposed for a third term. A Lightfoot ally, he supported her failed effort to sue gang members for their assets. Volunteers as a baseball coach for high schoolers and Little Leaguers.

Protégé of Cook County Board President John Stroger, she was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley and easily won the next five elections. One of three Council ringleaders behind a largely failed proposal to take power to make committee picks away from the mayor. After serving as Lightfoot’s floor leader, she backed Vallas in the runoff.

Second-longest-tenured alderperson, he has pushed for greater Council independence from mayoral influence, but was iced out of leadership in the early version of his colleagues’ proposed power grab. A Lightfoot critic, he backed Vallas in the runoff. Former computer data analyst and community activist.

A Chicago police officer, he won a runoff to replace retiring Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza. Previously worked for United Way and in child welfare services. Cousin of former Chicago Board of Education president Gery Chico. Son of a retired steelworker.

First Asian American woman and first Chinese American to serve on the Council. Appointed by Lightfoot, she was forced into a runoff but won handily. Former United Airlines executive with close ties to Daley family. Whitney Young High School, University of Chicago grad backed Vallas.

Community organizer and CPS social worker who lost a brother to gun violence, which became her top campaign issue. Won in February against Ald. Anabel Abarca, who had held the seat for only a few months. Abarca was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to replace George Cardenas, who moved up to county office. Supported Johnson.

Former staffer and longtime loyalist to indicted ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Quinn shares office space with Madigan, who remains a Democratic ward committeeperson. Voted against Lightfoot’s last three budgets, pushes for more police funding,and rarely talks on Council floor.

Ward’s first Latina leader — and first not named Burke in 70 years. Ald. Ed Burke held the seat for 54 years after his father, Joseph Burke, held it for 16. Ed Burke was convicted of corruption charges by a federal jury in December 2023. Gutiérrez is a former CPS counselor and district director for Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya.

Relished role as a thorn in Lightfoot’s side, and has reprised it with Johnson. Lopez launched a brief mayoral bid before backing Vallas in the runoff. Longtime proponent of Council independence, he still slammed an attempt by his colleagues to grab more power during the lame-duck days of the LIghtfoot administration. Now a senior member of Council's LGBT Caucus.

A Progressive Caucus member, she cruised to reelection with 77.5% of the vote. Elected 16th Ward Democratic committeeperson in 2016. Studied business and nonprofit management. Daughter of former Ald. Shirley Coleman, who lost the seat in 2007, and Pastor David Coleman.

A former corporate accountant, Moore led the push to rename Lake Shore Drive for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. Worked for Chicago Housing Authority and Aviation Department. Uncontested for third term after failed Democratic primary bid for Illinois secretary of state. Backed Vallas in runoff.

A concealed-carry class instructor, he accidentally shot himself in the wrist while cleaning a neighbor's gun. Months later, his daughter suffered a leg wound during class. Was a Lightfoot ally, but after she failed to reach out during hospitalizations he backed Vallas instead. A former precinct captain, Curtis cruised to third term.

Popular fourth-term incumbent and police ally. Key early Lightfoot supporter who later split, backing Vallas. Former aide to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. O’Shea. cracked down on (some of the) drunken tomfoolery at South Side Irish Parade. A longtime Special Olympics Chicago board member, he’s married to a CPS teacher.

A Democratic Socialist, she fought Lightfoot over getting a community benefits agreement to protect Woodlawn residents from potential displacement and gentrification by the Obama Presidential Center. Settled on a deal Taylor called a “small step in the right direction.” Early supporter of Johnson, Taylor led a 2011 hunger strike to save Dyett High School.

The Council’s youngest member, Mosley replaced Ald. Howard Brookins Jr., who retired and endorsed Mosley, as did the CTU and Pritzker. A longtime community organizer, he worked in Ald. Michelle Harris’ office and co-founded a consulting firm.

A Progressive Caucus member, Rodriguez pushed Lightfoot to release the report on the botched smokestack implosion that covered Little Village in dust. Supported Johnson in runoff, reelected with two-thirds of the vote. Now executive vice chair of county Democratic Party, he once was executive officer in medical examiner’s office.

A former state representative, she was a Madigan loyalist before falling out. A police supporter, she called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Appointed by then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, then reelected in landslides. Was a reporter for public radio (not WBEZ) and an editor for a community newspaper. Backed Vallas.

The former Park District supervisor was appointed by Lightfoot to replace Scott’s younger brother, who left for the private sector before being appointed to the Chicago Board of Education. Forced into runoff, she won easily. She owned a Lincoln Park women’s clothing boutique and has been cheerleading coach for North Lawndale Eagles.

A CTU-backed Democratic Socialist Caucus member, he previously ran the Pilsen Alliance. A vocal Lightfoot critic, he took part in a hunger strike to protest the move by metal-shredder General Iron to the Southeast Side. An early Johnson backer. Ecuador native founded bilingual adult education program at UIC, where he’s a PhD candidate.

Community organizer won three-way race to replace retiring Ald. Roberto Maldonado, becoming ward’s youngest-ever leader and first woman and queer person to hold the seat. Fuentes, a policy and youth advocacy director at Puerto Rican Cultural Center, formerly served as dean at Roberto Clemente Community Academy.

The longest-serving alderperson, Burnett takes Ed Burke’s mantle as Council dean. Helped Lightfoot force through Bally’s casino deal. Fined for West Side two-flat deemed “public nuisance” due to drug activity. Protégé of retired Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Burnett backed Lightfoot first, then Vallas in the runoff.

Black Caucus chair and another lead organizer of largely failed lame-duck Council power grab, Ervin still came out a winner as chair of the powerful Committee on Budget and Government Operations. He’s the husband of City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin. Ervin, a CPA, supported Lightfoot in February, Johnson in runoff.

The former Chicago Police Department sergeant acknowledged voters sent him a message by forcing him into a tight runoff race. Democratic committeeperson and Lightfoot ally who lost primary bid last summer for a judge’s seat on the Cook County Circuit Court. Taliaferro, a former Marine sergeant, is a practicing attorney.

Assistant director of admissions at Roosevelt University, Cruz beat former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez’s daughter to replace retiring Ald. Ariel Reboyras, who held the seat for two decades. Community rep on Foreman High School’s local school council. Volunteers in Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court.

An ally of former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, Cardona was reelected with 81% of vote. One of the biggest Council supporters of the Fraternal Order of Police. Backed U.S. Rep. Jesús G. "Chuy" García for mayor, then shifted to Vallas in runoff.

A Progressive Caucus member, he led Finance Committee under Lightfoot, but was scratched from leadership by Johnson after pushing lame-duck power grab by Council. Voted against widely-hated parking meter deal. Unopposed in the most recent election cycle, he’s rarely been challenged since first race, a narrow runoff win in 2007.

Democratic Socialist Caucus member and CTU ally was an early Johnson supporter, easily winning reelection, unlike the nail-biter for her first term. Columbia College adviser is pursuing a master’s in social work at Northeastern Illinois University. The Puerto Rican native identifies as queer.

Former prosecutor and billionaire’s son handily won new West Loop ward remapped from indicted retiring Ald. Carrie Austin’s old territory farther south. Lost 2020 primary challenge to Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. A Navy veteran, Conway remains a reserve intelligence officer and teaches finance at DePaul.

Dean of Democratic Socialist Caucus. The early Johnson supporter was rewarded by being named Zoning Committee chair and floor leader. He lost both posts after being accused of bullying other members to prevent them from forming a quorum at a special Council meeting called by mayoral critics. He and Lopez (15th) were first two openly gay Latino alderpersons. Worked for then-U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Lightfoot’s former floor leader, he was forced into a runoff. Chaired Latino Caucus. Lost Democratic congressional bid last summer. Marine veteran who served in Gulf War. Former chief of staff at Illinois Capital Development Board. He endorsed García for mayor, then stayed neutral in the runoff.

The former Streets and Sanitation aide is third in Council seniority. Pushed for the new police and fire training academy to drive revitalization in her West Garfield Park ward. The Arkansas native also landed the city's first Walmart. Appointed by Daley, she has faced little serious opposition since. Backed Lightfoot, then Vallas in runoff.

The retired firefighter, a former member of the Progressive Caucus, has become one of the Council’s most conservative voices. The former Lightfoot ally fought her COVID vaccination reporting mandate for city workers and her removal of Christopher Columbus statues. Uses a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis. Backed Vallas.

Pushed ordinance reducing use of single-use plastic utensils, but environmentalists said it didn’t go far enough. Former chief of staff for Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Also worked for the British Consulate and a health care nonprofit. Backed Vallas. Was reelected with two-thirds of the vote.

A Democratic Socialist, he was censured by that party’s Chicago chapter after voting for Lightfoot’s 2020 budget proposal. A former battle rapper — stage name Prime, as in Optimus — and AT&T account manager. Vasquez supported García for mayor, then backed Johnson in the runoff. Reelected with 79% of vote.

Former Chicago police officer-turned firefighter and a rare Council conservative. Pushed ordinance allowing cops to turn down excessive overtime, as the department continues to suffer a rash of suicides. A former Lightfoot supporter, he opposed her COVID vaccine reporting mandate. Easily reelected twice. Backed Vallas.

A one-time Lightfoot ally who served as Council president pro tempore, he blasted her deals for the Bally’s casino and the Grant Park NASCAR race. He’s tried to crack down on drag-racing street takeovers in his Downtown ward. A former Madigan staffer, Reilly has never been opposed for reelection. Backed Vallas.

First openly gay leader of affluent ward, Knudsen won a surprisingly close runoff for a full term after being appointed by Lightfoot. He raised campaign funds for Lightfoot in 2019. A former corporate attorney, he chaired the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals and appeared on an episode of HGTV’s “House Hunters.”

The former longtime chief of staff to retiring former Ald. Tom Tunney was unopposed in winning his former boss’ seat. A Loyola University graduate, Lawson also was district director for former state Sen. Carol Ronen. Another new member of the LGBTQ Caucus. The soon of a Rockford schoolteacher, Lawson backed Vallas.

A former firefighter, he won runoff for reelection despite a scandal-plagued first term during which an ex-aide was charged with trying to sell a machine gun to a federal agent. Apologized to Council for misogynistic texts in which he also threatened to withhold ward services from perceived enemies.

CTU-backed community organizer knocked off Pritzker-endorsed opponent in runoff to replace retiring Ald. James Cappleman. Launched a racial justice alliance at age 14. Served as president of affordable housing nonprofit Voice of the People and on the Local School Council at Brennemann Elementary. Studied public policy at DePaul.

A civil rights lawyer who worked for former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Martin was unopposed for reelection. A Progressive Caucus member and early Johnson supporter, he’s pushing to root out far-right extremists in the Chicago Police Department. Trained saxophonist studied jazz at Northwestern before earning his law degree at Harvard.

The first Filipino American Council member, she won a runoff to replace retiring Ald. Harry Osterman. Co-founder of progressive group Indivisible Illinois, she was backed by Johnson and others on the left. Identifies as queer. Licensed physical therapist, professional photographer, accomplished tango dancer.

First Black, queer woman to serve in Council was reelected with nearly 74% of the vote. The early Johnson backer pushed to make Juneteenth a city holiday. Apologized to firefighter’s union for aide’s “insensitive” Twitter takedown of Gardiner over a spat with his predecessor.

A former CPA and tax consultant, she cruised to reelection three times. Supports a proposal requiring city workers to shovel snowy sidewalks when homeowners don’t. A Democratic committeeperson, she backed Vallas. Co-founded the Libenu Foundation to find housing for Jewish adults with disabilities.