Former 2nd Ward Alderman and mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti plans to run for State Senate in the 5th legislative district, according to this D-1 Fioretti filed with the State Board of Elections. The seat is currently held by State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt Watkins, a West Side political activist who was elected to the state legislature in 2012, a year after she ran a quixotic fifth-place campaign for mayor of Chicago.

Watkins was supported by several West Side aldermen and ward organizations, including Ald. Walter Burnett, Jr. (27). Fioretti reported no funds for his new candidate committee, Bob Fioretti for State Senator, but his old aldermanic committee, which he used to fundraise for his mayoral bid, reported a balance of $8,461.70 as of June 30th.