Raymond Lopez was first elected alderman in 2015 in an open seat runoff after defeating Rafael Yanez to replace Toni Foulkes. Lopez won the 2015 election with support from several incumbent aldermen, including Ald. Tom Tunney (44), Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) and neighboring Ald. Ed Burke (14).

The outspoken firebrand Lopez won reelection in 2019, again defeating Yanez in a runoff. During his first term as alderman, Lopez was a generally reliable vote for former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s policies. But his support for the administration flipped after Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office. Lopez took immediate offense at Lightfoot’s mission to squelch aldermanic prerogative, and has since been one of Lightfoot’s most outspoken and consistent opponents. Lopez is a member of the LGBT Caucus and is a staunch supporter of the Chicago Police Department and of tough-on-crime policies.

Lopez first entered the 2023 election season as a candidate for mayor. He was the first candidate to formally launch a campaign in 2022, but on the first day candidates could file petitions for the Feb. 28 election, Lopez announced he was pulling out of the mayoral race for another shot at reelection as alderman.

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