Rep. Kam Buckner [D-Chicago] speaks at a campaign announcement event in the South Loop Thursday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) on Thursday became the third person to officially announce a challenge against Mayor Lori Lightfoot in next year’s Chicago mayoral race.

Buckner, whose name has been swirling for months as a likely candidate for Chicago mayor, made the announcement Thursday outside of TeaPotBrew Bakery in the South Loop to a crowd of about four-dozen people. The bakery is included in his state house district which stretches from South Chicago north to the Gold Coast. 

“A mayor’s job is not just to fight for the sake of fighting. It’s time to bring the people together,” Buckner said during his announcement event as the sun beat down and the temperature pushed past 90 degrees. “We want our mayor to be fearless and compassionate to get things done.”