An Endorsement Guide to the 2023 Chicago Municipal Elections

The Chicago municipal elections are just over two months away, and already candidates for city offices are securing endorsements they hope will help propel them into office.

High-profile endorsements from the Chicago Federation of Labor were announced on Tuesday, with the organization opting to remain neutral in the upcoming mayoral race.

The group did endorse a slew of City Council candidates, joining a list of labor groups and elected leaders that have cast their lots with various campaigns in the runup to the February election.

Here is the latest updates on the endorsement front this election cycle.

The Groups Included in This Guide

-The Chicago Federation of Labor describes itself as an “umbrella organization” representing more than 300 unions, combining for more than 500,000 members across a vast number of industries.

Notably, the group has chosen to remain neutral on the Chicago mayoral election.

-The Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130UA represents more than 6,100 local plumbers, and focuses on protecting and earning benefits for members while emphasizing proper training.

-The Chicago Teachers Union represents more than 25,000 educators in the city, and describes its mission as being “dedicated to advancing and promoting quality public education, improving teaching and learning conditions, and protecting members’ rights.”

-Gas Workers Local 18007 represents workers employed by local utility companies, seeking to ensure that "labor, acting along economic, political and moral actions, can help secure a more equitable distribution of the nation's wealth and benefits."

-The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 represents more than 23,000 workers in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Workers in the construction, public works, steel, concrete, slag and other industries are all represented by the union.

-The Sierra Club chapters of Chicago and Illinois "seek to elect environmental champions who will work to address the climate crisis and to build a more equitable city by fighting for access to clean energy, air and water for all Chicagoans."

-SEIU Healthcare is a union representing healthcare, child care, home care and nursing home workers in four Midwestern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas.

-SEIU Local 1 represents more than 50,000 workers in the Midwest, with janitors, security officers, airport workers, food service workers and more, according to its website. Its endorsements are split between the local chapter of the union and the Illinois State Council, according to a press release, and we have made note on which division of the union endorsed which candidate.

-SEIU Local 73 represents more than 31,000 workers, primarily in public service and publicly-funded positions. It says it chooses candidates to endorse that “best support working families’ issues.”

-United Working Families is a group “dedicated to building people-powered infrastructure and campaigns,” including pushing for high-paying jobs, quality public education and affordable housing, according to its website.

NOTE: We will continue to update this list as more endorsements become available. If your organization has made endorsements in the 2023 municipal election, email limchicago@nbcuni.com.

Mayoral Election

Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García

-Gasworkers Local 18007

-IUOE Local 150

Brandon Johnson

-Chicago Teachers Union

-SEIU Healthcare HCII

-SEIU Local 73

-United Working Families

Mayor Lori Lightfoot

-Plumbers Local Union 130 UA

-Sen. Tammy Duckworth

-Secretary of State Jesse White

-Rep. Danny Davis

-Rep. Robin Kelly

-Rep. Bobby Rush

-Chicago Ald. Walter Burnett

Dr. Willie Wilson

-Polish-American Congress’ Illinois Division

-Ald. Raymond Lopez

City Treasurer

Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin

-Chicago Federation of Labor

City Clerk

City Clerk Anna Valencia

-Chicago Federation of Labor

Aldermanic Races

1^st Ward

Ald. Daniel La Spata

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-Sierra Club Chicago

-United Working Families

2^nd Ward

Ald. Brian Hopkins

-Chicago Federation of Labor

3^rd Ward

Ald. Pat Dowell

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

4^th Ward

Khari Humphries

-United Working Families

Lamont Robinson

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

5^th Ward

Desmon Yancy

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-United Working Families

6^th Ward

William Hall

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-United Working Families

7^th Ward

Ald. Gregory Mitchell

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

8^th Ward

Ald. Michelle Harris

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73  

9^th Ward

Cleopatra Draper

-United Working Families

10^th Ward

Ana Guajardo

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

Oscar Sanchez

-United Working Families

11^th Ward

Ald. Nicole Lee

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

12^th Ward

Julia Ramirez

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-United Working Families

13^th Ward

Ald. Marty Quinn

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-Gasworkers Local 18007

14^th Ward

Jeylú Gutiérrez

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-Gasworkers Local 18007

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

15^th Ward

Vicko Alvarez

-United Working Families

16^th Ward

Ald. Stephanie Coleman

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

17^th Ward

Ald. David Moore

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

18^th Ward

Ald. Derrick Curtis

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Local 1

19^th Ward

Ald. Matthew O’Shea

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

20^th Ward

Ald. Jeanette Taylor

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-Sierra Club Chicago

-United Working Families

21^st Ward

Ronnie Mosley

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

22^nd Ward

Ald. Michael Rodriguez

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

23^rd Ward

Ald. Silvana Tabares

-Gasworkers Local 18007

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73  

24^th Ward

-No included group has yet made an endorsement in this race.

25^th Ward

Byron Sigcho-Lopez

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

26^th Ward

Jessie Fuentes

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-United Working Families

27^th Ward

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr.

-Chicago Federation of Labor

28^th Ward

Ald. Jason Ervin

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

29^th Ward

Ald. Chris Taliaferro

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

30^th Ward

Ruth Cruz

-Chicago Federation of Labor

31^st Ward

Ald. Felix Cardona Jr.

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

32^nd Ward

Ald. Scott Waguespack

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

33^rd Ward

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-Sierra Club Chicago

-United Working Families

34^th Ward

Bill Conway

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

35^th Ward

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-Sierra Club Chicago

-United Working Families

36^th Ward

Lori Torres-Whitt

-United Working Families

Ald. Gilbert Villegas

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-Gasworkers Local 18007

37^th Ward

Ald. Emma Mitts

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

38^th Ward

Ald. Nicholas Sposato

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Local 1

39^th Ward

Denali Dasgupta

-United Working Families

Ald. Samantha Nugent

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Local 1

40^th Ward

Ald. Andre Vasquez

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73  

-Sierra Club Chicago

41^st Ward

Ald. Anthony Napolitano

-Gasworkers Local 18007

42^nd Ward

Ald. Brendan Reilly

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Local 1

43^rd Ward

Rebecca Janowitz

-SEIU Local 73

-SEIU Illinois State Council

Ald. Timmy Knudsen

-Chicago Federation of Labor

44^th Ward

Bennett Lawson

-Chicago Federation of Labor

45^th Ward

Ald. Jim Gardiner

-Chicago Federation of Labor

46^th Ward

Angela Clay

-United Working Families

Roushaunda Williams

-Chicago Federation of Labor

47^th Ward

Ald. Matt Martin

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-SEIU Local 73

-Sierra Club Chicago

-United Working Families

48^th Ward

Joe Dunne

-Chicago Federation of Labor

49^th Ward

Ald. Maria Hadden

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Local 73

-SEIU Illinois State Council

-Sierra Club Chicago

-United Working Families

50^th Ward

Ald. Debra Silverstein

-Chicago Federation of Labor

-SEIU Local 1

 Mueze Bawany

-United Working Families