Rep. Mike Quigley says he'll run for mayor of Chicago in 2027 election

Rep. Mike Quigley has a primarily election coming up in two months as he seeks another term in Congress, but he’s also planning another run for office.

Quigley confirmed to NBC News that he intends to run for mayor of Chicago in the upcoming 2027 election.

“I’m running for mayor of the city of Chicago,” he said.

Quigley, who has served in Congress in 2009, is currently running for reelection, but the election for mayor comes less than two months after he would be sworn in for the term in 2027.

“I love the city of Chicago, and it’s hard for me to see the struggles it’s facing,” he said. “The status quo hasn’t worked for a long time. When the DNC came to Chicago, my colleagues stood with me at the lakefront and were amazed what a beautiful city it was. But it’s all resting on a crumbling financial foundation, and that has to be fixed, or it won’t exist.”

He has said previously it will be his last term in Congress if he wins.

Ahern reported in August that Quigley was crisscrossing the city and talking to a variety of groups about a potential run.

“We’re not at a crossroads. The crossroads was 12 years ago,” he said. “We keep spitballing and using spackle to put this together.”

Quigley got his start in politics as a Cook County Commissioner who was aggressive in pushing for budget transparency, but he’s just one of many potential candidates who could seek the Chicago mayor’s office.

Of course there is incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has not yet definitively said whether he will seek reelection in 2027.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has also been viewed as a potential candidate, raising millions of dollars for his political fund in recent months. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza won’t seek reelection to office in 2026, fueling speculation that she could run for Chicago mayor.

Businessman Willie Wilson may also mount another run for office. Several members of Chicago’s City Council, who have been fierce critics of Johnson, have also been connected to potential runs, including Alds. Bill Conway, Brian Hopkins and Brendan Reilly.

Whichever candidate ends up winning the race, Quigley said a key ingredient to their success will be a willingness to make tough choices, even if it results in them losing the 2031 race.