Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announces campaign for Chicago mayor
By Adam Harrington
Updated on: August 2, 2026 / 1:01 PM CDT / CBS Chicago
simply full of shit, most of the time
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias officially announced his campaign for mayor of Chicago on Sunday.
Giannoulias' team said his campaign would be "centered on restoring confidence and competence in City Hall, making government work, and bringing together a city ready to move forward."
In announcing his candidacy before a cheering crowd on Sunday, Giannoulias invoked an image of Chicago as a city where hard work and sacrifice pay off.
"I believe something with every ounce of my being — Chicago's greatest days are still ahead of us," Giannoulias said. "This city has never been defined by its challenges. It has always been defined by the people who turn challenges into opportunity. It's defined by the strength, resilience, proud, strong, husky, brawn spirits of its people and our neighborhoods."
Giannoulias noted that his own parents were Greek immigrants who came to Chicago chasing nothing more than the American dream.
"My mom worked at Sears. My dad sold pickles seven days a week — mornings, nights, weekends — doing whatever it took to build a better future for their future family," he said. "You see, they weren't chasing wealth. They were chasing possibility."
Giannoulias said his family, like so many others in Chicago, wanted their children to dream bigger.
"That story isn't unique. It's the story of Chicago. It's the story of parents working double and triple shifts; teachers staying after school to help kids who need just a little extra help; union members heading out before sunrise exhausted, but dong it day after day for the families they love; small business unlocking their doors every single morning with hope. It's the story generations believing that if you work hard, play by the rules and look out for your neighbors, tomorrow can be better than today," he said. "That belief built Chicago, and it's that belief that will build our future."
Unfortunately, Giannoulias said, many Chicagoans are finding that their hard work and sacrifice are no longer paying off.
"Housing costs continue to rise. Property taxes are straining family budgets. Parents can't afford child care. Families are worried about our streets being safe. Young people wonder whether they'll ever be able to buy their first home. Working families stretch every paycheck just to keep up," Giannoulias said. "But these aren't statistics. They're the real, everyday fears and worries of hardworking people who deserve government that works just as hard as they do."
Giannoulias said Chicago needs a municipal government that stands up for people in such situations — leadership that isn't perfect, but works to solve problems, represents all of Chicago, and unites rather than divides.
"When people say that something can't be done, Chicago proves them wrong every single time," he said.
GIannoulias called for policies such as universal pre-K for Chicago's children, raising the minimum wage, and construction of housing that working Chicagoans can afford.
"Chicago should never become a city reserved only for the wealthy," he said.
Giannoulias was elected as Illinois Secretary of State in 2022, succeeding the renowned Jesse White. In his position, Giannoulias oversees the state's driver's licensing facilities and keeps the state's official records.
He also served as Illinois Treasurer for one term from 2007 to 2011. In that role, he served as the state's chief investment officer and chief banking officer, overseeing the state's investment portfolio.
Giannoulias lost his bid for former President Barack Obama's old Senate seat in 2010, falling to Mark Kirk by less than 60,000 votes.
Chicago's next mayoral election is set for Feb. 23, 2027, and eight other candidates already have announced plans to run. Candidates began circulating nominating petitions on July 28, and must file them with the Chicago Board of Elections by Oct. 26, 2026.
If no candidate gets a majority of the vote on Feb. 23, the top two finishers in the race will face off in a runoff election on April 6, 2027.
Chicago's current mayor, Brandon Johnson, has yet to announce whether he'll run for a second term. He has noted that he didn't launch his first campaign for mayor until October 2022.
Todd Feurer contributed to this report.
Updated on: August 2, 2026 / 1:01 PM CDT / CBS Chicago
simply full of shit, most of the time
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias officially announced his campaign for mayor of Chicago on Sunday.
Giannoulias' team said his campaign would be "centered on restoring confidence and competence in City Hall, making government work, and bringing together a city ready to move forward."
In announcing his candidacy before a cheering crowd on Sunday, Giannoulias invoked an image of Chicago as a city where hard work and sacrifice pay off.
"I believe something with every ounce of my being — Chicago's greatest days are still ahead of us," Giannoulias said. "This city has never been defined by its challenges. It has always been defined by the people who turn challenges into opportunity. It's defined by the strength, resilience, proud, strong, husky, brawn spirits of its people and our neighborhoods."
Giannoulias noted that his own parents were Greek immigrants who came to Chicago chasing nothing more than the American dream.
"My mom worked at Sears. My dad sold pickles seven days a week — mornings, nights, weekends — doing whatever it took to build a better future for their future family," he said. "You see, they weren't chasing wealth. They were chasing possibility."
Giannoulias said his family, like so many others in Chicago, wanted their children to dream bigger.
"That story isn't unique. It's the story of Chicago. It's the story of parents working double and triple shifts; teachers staying after school to help kids who need just a little extra help; union members heading out before sunrise exhausted, but dong it day after day for the families they love; small business unlocking their doors every single morning with hope. It's the story generations believing that if you work hard, play by the rules and look out for your neighbors, tomorrow can be better than today," he said. "That belief built Chicago, and it's that belief that will build our future."
Unfortunately, Giannoulias said, many Chicagoans are finding that their hard work and sacrifice are no longer paying off.
"Housing costs continue to rise. Property taxes are straining family budgets. Parents can't afford child care. Families are worried about our streets being safe. Young people wonder whether they'll ever be able to buy their first home. Working families stretch every paycheck just to keep up," Giannoulias said. "But these aren't statistics. They're the real, everyday fears and worries of hardworking people who deserve government that works just as hard as they do."
Giannoulias said Chicago needs a municipal government that stands up for people in such situations — leadership that isn't perfect, but works to solve problems, represents all of Chicago, and unites rather than divides.
"When people say that something can't be done, Chicago proves them wrong every single time," he said.
GIannoulias called for policies such as universal pre-K for Chicago's children, raising the minimum wage, and construction of housing that working Chicagoans can afford.
"Chicago should never become a city reserved only for the wealthy," he said.
Giannoulias was elected as Illinois Secretary of State in 2022, succeeding the renowned Jesse White. In his position, Giannoulias oversees the state's driver's licensing facilities and keeps the state's official records.
He also served as Illinois Treasurer for one term from 2007 to 2011. In that role, he served as the state's chief investment officer and chief banking officer, overseeing the state's investment portfolio.
Giannoulias lost his bid for former President Barack Obama's old Senate seat in 2010, falling to Mark Kirk by less than 60,000 votes.
Chicago's next mayoral election is set for Feb. 23, 2027, and eight other candidates already have announced plans to run. Candidates began circulating nominating petitions on July 28, and must file them with the Chicago Board of Elections by Oct. 26, 2026.
If no candidate gets a majority of the vote on Feb. 23, the top two finishers in the race will face off in a runoff election on April 6, 2027.
Chicago's current mayor, Brandon Johnson, has yet to announce whether he'll run for a second term. He has noted that he didn't launch his first campaign for mayor until October 2022.
Todd Feurer contributed to this report.
Another taken care of political hack that will do nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnother demoratt do nothing grifter.
ReplyDeleteRemember, this is the Machine politician who:
ReplyDeletelost $150 million for Illinois Bright Start college funds via Oppenheimer investments;
lent $20 million to convicted felons Michael Giorango and Demitri Stavropoulos;
help cost taxpayers $394 million when his family's Broadway Bank went under;
has been granting Drivers Licenses to ILLEGAL ALIENS for years now....and registering them to vote;
has based his early campaign commercials on defending ILLEGAL ALIENS from deportation