Ald. Sophia King (4), chair of the City Council Progressive Caucus who ran as a mayoral candidate in the Feb. 28 election, endorsed former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas in the mayoral runoff. But a group of nine aldermen who are members of the Progressive Caucus issued a statement saying King’s endorsement doesn’t speak for the caucus. 

Joe Dunne and Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) are two aldermanic candidates using red boxes on their websites. [Courtesy photos]

Candidates in multiple aldermanic runoffs are using red boxes on their campaign websites often used to highlight approved ad messaging to independent political action committees, a strategy that — while not explicitly banned in Illinois — some election experts say essentially skirts legal prohibitions on coordination between campaigns and outside PACs.

Joe Dunne, an affordable housing developer competing in the 48th Ward, and Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36), who is defending his City Council seat in the April runoff, both have red boxes on their websites. The boxed text includes messaging about both the candidates and their opponents. 

Copies of two mailers opposing Angela Clay paid for by Get Stuff Done PAC, left, compared with the red box on Kim Walz's website, right.

With less than two weeks until the April 4 runoff election, a candidate running for alderman in the 46th Ward has accused her opponent of using a tactic to indirectly influence ads produced by independent political committees. 

The open race to replace retiring Ald. James Cappleman (46) also intensified last week as it became the first aldermanic contest to see contribution caps blown. The ward covers Uptown and parts of Lakeview.

Sen. Bernie Sanders will be in Chicago on Thursday to rally support for Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson (D-1) ahead of the mayoral runoff. Additionally, Arne Duncan on Friday announced his support for former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas in the April 4 runoff.  

Protesters march down Stony Island Avenue in favor of a CBA ordinance to combat displacement as a result of the Obama Presidential Center in 2019 [Maxwell Evans/Block Club Chicago]

Voters in the 5th Ward overwhelmingly support the implementation of a community benefits agreement (CBA) for parts of South Shore that will be affected by the construction of the Obama Presidential Center, but the two aldermanic candidates in the April 4 runoff to replace retiring Ald. Leslie Hairston (5) differ in how much of the CBA’s policy demands they support. 

One of the candidates, community organizer Desmon Yancy, fully supports the demands of the coalition calling for a CBA, while Tina Hone, former chief engagement officer for the city of Chicago, disagrees with some of the demands.

An outgoing alderman has formalized his plans to exit office three days early, and campaign contribution limits have come off in the first aldermanic race of the runoff season. 

Meanwhile, the public has a chance to weigh in on the process for crafting district boundaries for Chicago’s elected school board.

Former mayoral candidates Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) on Thursday announced his endorsement of Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson (D-1) in the runoff for Chicago mayor. Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas got endorsements from sitting aldermen. And on Wednesday the civilian police oversight commission detailed its search for a new police superintendent. 

From top left, Ald. Daniel La Spata, Ald. Jim Gardiner and Ald. Chris Taliaferro and from bottom left, Sam Royko, Megan Mathias and CB Johnson. (courtesy photos) 

Fourteen aldermanic races are set to be decided with a runoff election on April 4, according to official election results published by the Chicago Board of Elections Wednesday.

Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson give victory speeches at Election Night watch parties on Feb. 28, 2023, as both head into an April runoff for mayor. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

Millions of dollars are being pumped into both of the campaigns competing in the mayoral runoff, but the biggest sources of money flowing into Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson (D-1) and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas’ campaigns in the week since the two made the runoff contrast widely. 

With the candidates allowed to rake in an unlimited amount of campaign cash from donors, Johnson has shored up his campaign coffers with funds from large labor interests. Vallas has been able to add millions to his campaign committee by drawing on support from private equity and investment firms.

From left, Ald. Daniel La Spata and Sam Royko, and from bottom left, Ald. Chris Taliaferro and CB Johnson. [Provided photos]

In the week since polls closed, the likelihood of runoffs in two aldermanic races remains unclear. But counting of mail-in ballots continues. By law, the Chicago Board of Elections must count all ballots received by March 14 as long as they are postmarked on Feb. 28 before 7 p.m. at the latest.