THE SOUTH LOOP (WBBM Newsradio) -- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Friday he's not concerned about potential challenges to his petitions nominating him in his bid for re-election, despite new reports that raise questions about the legality of some of his petitions.
The mayor's campaign team says the mayor submitted about 33,000 signatures to Chicago Board of Elections clerks on October 23, well above the 12,500 valid signatures needed to secure a spot on February's citywide election. Campaigns frequently file more signatures than required in the event that some are found to be ineligible.
But NBC Chicago reports that some of the petitions filed by the mayor were photocopies rather than originals, while others carried the name of Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin instead of the mayor's. Those petitions could be ruled invalid if campaigns chose to file legal challenges to them.
After speaking to supporters Friday afternoon at a "Seniors For Brandon" event at Quinn AME Chapel, 2401 S. Wabash Ave., the mayor told reporters he was not worried.
"I have more than enough signatures to secure my spot on the ballot," said the mayor. "I'm grateful to all the volunteers who helped secure my place on the ballot and I feel absolutely confident that we'll be able to withstand any challenges."
Fifteen candidates have filed petitions for a spot challenging the mayor.
Chicago Board of Elections worker Jake Pollock spins a bingo-style wheel to decide ballot positions for the city's February 23 election, October 30, 2026.
Geoff Buchholz - WBBM Newsradio
Also Friday, election clerks picked lobbyist John Kelly as the first name on the February 23 ballot, in a random drawing of the five candidates who were first to file nominating petitions. City worker Jessica "Jesse" Maronto was selected to be the last name on the ballot, but Maronto told WBBM Newsradio she did not believe she filed enough valid signatures to be on the ballot, and would be encouraging supporters to write her name in. If she doesn't appear on the printed ballot, the name of Cook County Board of Review commissioner and former Ald. George Cardenas would be the final name.
Mayor Johnson did not file signatures during either of the two windows to be entered into the first- or last-place ballot lotteries, and dismissed the idea after filing his signatures.
"What do I need the lottery for? I'm the mayor of the city of Chicago!" he exclaimed at the time.
