* Block Club Chicago…
A Chicago mayoral candidate is asking a Cook County judge to decide whether three Democratic officeholders can simultaneously run for mayor and seek reelection to their current jobs.
William Quinlan, who announced his candidacy for mayor last week, is arguing that a recent change to Illinois’ election calendar has created a legal conflict that did not exist in previous election cycles.
He filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.
The lawsuit centers on a change Illinois lawmakers made to the election calendar in 2024 that moved up the filing period for Chicago’s next mayoral election, which is set for Feb. 23.
Click here for Quinlan’s lawsuit.
* Capitol News Illinois…
The suit is likely a legal longshot for a few reasons.
First, and perhaps the most technical, there’s a ripeness issue as the three candidates haven’t actually filed petitions to run for mayor yet. Until then, any ballot eligibility controversy is hypothetical.
Second, while the changed timeline is an interesting wrinkle, it only matters if the offices are “incompatible.” And that seems like a tougher argument to make as it’s not uncommon for state officeholders to simultaneously serve in local government. Oftentimes, it’s mayors or township officials who serve in the legislature.
Third, it seems the intent of the election code was to prevent candidates from running for multiple offices in the same election. While Giannoulias, Quigley and Pappas would technically be candidates for two different offices for about a week or two, they’d be for separate elections.
* More…
* CBS Chicago | Chicago mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan files lawsuit to block 3 rivals from getting on the ballot: In a statement, the Quigley campaign shrugged off Quinlan’s lawsuit. “This is a frivolous lawsuit, without merit, filed by someone best known for being Rod Blagojevich’s general counsel,” a campaign spokesperson said.
* Sun-Times | Mayoral hopeful Bill Quinlan sues in bid to shrink field of candidates: Giannoulias, the presumed front-runner with a campaign war chest of $22 million, did not respond to the lawsuit, instead releasing a statement: “Alexi is focused on talking to Chicagoans about the issues they care about: making Chicago a safer, more affordable place to live.” […] Pappas said she has not formally announced her candidacy for mayor, so the suit shouldn’t apply to her.
* Tribune | Chicago mayoral candidates running for two offices at once drives a wedge in 2027 race: “I believe that when you know this far ahead — and he’s known this far ahead, that he was going to run for mayor — that the right thing to do is to allow the people to choose your successor,” said Mendoza, who declared her mayoral candidacy in June. “It’s democracy, right? I do believe that Chicagoans deserve a mayor that is all in. … Let me remind folks that this is not the private sector.” It’s a lesson Mendoza learned personally. The last time she ran for mayor was in 2019, a race she lost amid grumbles after she had just won her reelection bid as state comptroller months earlier, in the fall of 2018.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:29 am:
The lawsuit buys Quinlan more publicity than his campaign platform could ever muster.
- The Donald - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:31 am:
Anything for headlines
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:33 am:
People mythologize Harold Washington, but he did this. He was a congressman when he ran from Mayor in 1983. I am not sure voters really care.
- Titan - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:35 am:
This suit will go nowhere. Mostly because the offices are elected at different elections
- Annon'in - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:39 am:
“Fumbles” scores on this, but probably does not get across goal line because it is unclear if he has standing. (BTW this is a historical name earned for his Blagoof years when he chief duty was tossing a nerf football around the office)
- Steve - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:46 am:
- I am not sure voters really care.-
Probably not a big issue with most Chicago voters.
- Juice - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:48 am:
Few thoughts on this. First, on the merits, this is totally ridiculous. But that is besides the point. Because second, great publicity stunt. Got his name out there effectively, all the press is covering it. So kudos for that. Who knows how long it will last, and not sure it will fit in well with the image he is trying to build for himself as being competent when this probably never even makes it to a courtroom on the merits.
Third, on that image, in the Sun Times artilce, it says he worked on Obama’s 2012 campaign. Did he actually do any legal work for them? Or did he simply volunteer for their election integrity stuff to go to Wisconsin if necessary, in the same way that 1000s of Chicago attorneys did? If this resume fluffing since his public sector experience is working for three convicted felons (Madigan, Rostenkowski, and Blagojevich)?
Fourth, all that being said, would be interesting for someone to ask Alexi whether he would continue to run for Mayor if Darren Bailey were elected Governor (and thus would get to appoint his successor as SOS.)
- Oklahoma - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 10:56 am:
Seems like you could only reach the conclusion that offices are “incompatible” if they have the exact same term start and end date.
- low level - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 11:05 am:
This is just plain weak. A clout heavy is going to file a lawsuit for this? Dumb. Harold Washington did it when he ran for re election to Congress them ran for mayor in 1983. Rich Daley did it when he ran for another term as state’s attorney in 1988 then turned around and ran for mayor in 1989. Quinlan knows this. He comes across as weak and desperate with this nonsense, at least to me.
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 11:13 am:
You again?
In a runoff between the two, I would vigorously campaign for Johnson.
- ok - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 11:19 am:
“I believe that when you know this far ahead — and he’s known this far ahead, that he was going to run for mayor — that the right thing to do is to allow the people to choose your successor,” said Mendoza, who declared her mayoral candidacy in June. “
LOL
- Juice - Wednesday, Sep 23, 26 @ 11:26 am:
Brandon Johnson ran for County Board in 2022 and was elected Mayor in 2023.
Richard J Daley was re-elected as County Clerk and 1954 and elected Mayor in 1955.
Jesse Jackson Jr. was re-elected to Congress in 2008, and Quinlan’s old boss tried to sell him a Senate seat for 2009.