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City Cast Chicago

Emily Mack

. But during Chicago’s 2022 midterm primary, just 22% of the city voted. We can do better than that!

It’s Election Day Today … and Tomorrow? Plus, Our Summer Plans at Ravinia

 and the city’s downtown supersite will continue operating through 7 p.m. today. Same-day registration is available at all those sites, plus additional 

Here’s what you’ll need for same-day registration.

Already registered? Today, you can hit your local polling site — 

, make sure your ballot is postmarked today! Vote-by-mail procrastinators should consider dropping ballots off at an early-voting spot.

The retirement of longtime Sen. Dick Durbin has opened up a competitive Democratic race, currently dominated by three front-runners: 

Other competitive congressional races are happening in the 2nd, 7th, 8th, and 9th Districts:

 are running to replace Krishnamoorthi, including 

 Thirteen candidates want to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, including 

Fifteen candidates hope to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Among them: 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle faces 

 from (the relatively conservative) Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd).

 are vying to become comptroller, aka the person who pays the bills in Illinois.

As property taxes rise, the Democratic party has 

 Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, supporting suburban challenger Pat Hynes.

The Cook County Board of Review also faces a potential shakeup, following 

Actually, I can’t tell you who to vote for … but I can help you get informed! Consider consulting these heavily researched guides:

 both allow for easy comparison between candidates.

 offers helpful details for evaluating judicial candidates. (This year, though, 

 is a progressive independent option with a casual tone

 aims to appeal to young voters and includes many visuals

More on the biggest races we’re watching 👀

In Chicago, primaries often decide winners. So go vote!

Your Last-Minute Illinois Primary Election Guide

Your Last-Minute Election Guide

What's being decided in Chicago City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Chicago City Council. 

Chicago Election and City Hall News

Local Civics

Don’t forget — the Illinois primary is coming up in March. And as any Chicagoan can tell you, that’s where the action is.

Here are the big races we’re keeping an eye on

Across both parties, 17 (!) candidates are running to replace longtime U.S. Sen.

Dick Durbin, who is retiring after nearly 29 years in the Senate. 

 are perhaps the most well-known names in the crowded race.

Krishnamoorthi was first elected to the 8th district in 2016. 

He’s also the biggest fundraiser in the race

 in 2013 to replace Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. after his sudden resignation amid an investigation into campaign finance fraud. Stratton became Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate in 2018 and has served as his lieutenant ever since.

Those three Democrats recently released their economic proposals

On the GOP side, the former state party chair Don Tracy is (somewhat) well-known. He resigned abruptly in 2024, just before the RNC, 

. Tracy is more of a pre-MAGA Republican.

Kelly and Krishnamoorthi are stepping down from their current positions as they vie for the Senate.

, 12 candidates, including 10 Democrats, aim to replace Kelly. Among them:

, eight Democrats are running to replace Krishnamoorthi. 

, who’s launched a big ad campaign to win back her old seat

, 15 candidates are running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Danny Davis. Among them:

, over 20 total candidates are running to succeed the retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Among the Democrats:

, who earned Schakowsky’s endorsement last week

, who’s now fighting a federal indictment over 

Bushra Amiwala, a Skokie school board member who 

 running for the Cook County Board as a student

While no Democrats are challenging Gov. JB Pritzer, former state Rep. Darren Bailey, the party’s 2022 nominee, leads the GOP field with 34% support.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, however, has one major challenger: 

The future of property tax assessments also hangs in the balance. 

 is running for reelection — without the support of county Democrats 

a shakeup on the Cook County Board of Review

 … and there’s even more primary elections where those came from. Follow along on the podcast and in the newsletter as we gear up to March 17!

The Illinois primary is coming up in March — and that’s where the action is. Here are the races we’re keeping an eye on.

The Primary Races to Watch

temporarily blocking National Guard deployment

 is just one of many legal actions unfolding at Chicago’s federal courthouse against the Trump administration.

, litigation isn’t everything. “But it is an important part of all the other building blocks that we have to push back against this authoritarian regime,” he said.

Here’s a roundup of a few of the biggest court cases we’re following.

The news has been moving quickly. Last Monday, Chicago and Illinois 

. The next day, National Guard troops began staging near Joliet. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge April Perry issued a temporary injunction.

Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have claimed the decision as a victory. 

Meanwhile, troops were not seen during demonstrations Friday at the ICE facility in Broadview. But protesters did clash with local police, 

Speaking of Broadview, some of the legal actions Perry referred to stem from those suburban protests.

, charges were dropped against four people arrested while protesting. In one case, a federal grand jury refused to indict a couple who were legally carrying firearms, prompting one of their attorneys to quip that prosecutors had “

On Oct. 9, the same day Perry issued her ruling, another judge ruled federal agents can’t use tear gas, pepper spray, or other weapons against journalists and peaceful protesters. The ruling also requires agents to wear “visible identification,” according to Block Club, one of the news organizations that sued.

,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis said.

In yet another decision, a federal judge ordered ICE to 

 around the Broadview facility. Broadview officials had argued the fence hindered public safety because it blocked the fire department.

Underlying all of these actions is the Trump administration’s aggressive push on immigration enforcement. But many of those arrests may be illegal, too.

A federal judge ruled last week that ICE agents violated a 2022 consent decree that largely bans warrantless arrests. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of 26 people arrested in the Midwest earlier this year — and 

attorneys estimate hundreds more could be released

Planning to protest? Know your rights ✊

From National Guard deployment to protest crowd control to ICE arrests, the federal government has had several court losses in Chicago.

Trump’s Biggest Legal Losses in Chicago

Donald Trump and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week in Court

Chicago has always been a labor town, which is why we’re diving into the local connection to Labor Day ahead of the holiday weekend.

President Grover Cleveland did not want states celebrating May Day, a spring holiday socialists abroad created to commemorate the fatal labor rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square in 1886.

Labor Day was made a federal holiday to appease the labor movement

 amid the Pullman Strike in the late 19th century, according to National Geographic.


But it was largely seen as a performative gesture since Cleveland sent federal troops to the city to end the boycott. Strikers rioted, and the National Guard fired into the crowd and killed dozens of people.

What’s Happening on Labor Day in Chicago This Year?

On Monday, labor groups and activists will rally at the Haymarket Memorial in West Loop. The “

” march will protest President Donald Trump’s threats to send the National Guard to Chicago.

In addition to learning about the strike that led to Labor Day’s creation at the 

The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum

 explores the birth of the Black labor movement.

 has an online tour about the Haymarket Affair.

 features a permanent exhibition looking at workers’ rights and other struggles.

This article was originally published Aug. 30, 2023

Why You Can Thank Chicago for Labor Day

Alders once ruled like mini kings in Chicago. Sometimes, they still do thanks to “aldermanic prerogative.” (

Living here, I’ve long heard the term but never really knew what it

aldermanic prerogative was front and center

 as some alders delayed a vote on “granny flats.” A final decision to legalize those accessory dwelling units will likely come in fall.

In the meantime, let’s review what the heck aldermanic prerogative means.

Aldermanic prerogative, sometimes called aldermanic privilege, is the idea that an alder has final say over decisions in their ward — basically, veto power. However, that idea is unwritten. 

Chicago is the largest U.S. city without a charter

, or constitution, laying out these rules.

, that power was reinforced by alders who had the backing of — or were — their ward’s committeemen. (

Committeepeople are another conversation.

) Even today, alders still have major say in what does, or doesn't, get built as zoning changes remain up to City Council.

In 2023, a probe by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that aldermanic prerogative has led to a 

“hyper-segregated city rife with racism and gentrification.”

 to deter integrated, affordable housing.

In the investigation, alders said they weighed local ward opinion to determine their vetoes. This concern about local considerations is part of the granny flat debate.

in hopes of increasing housing stock. But it was blocked in City Council over concerns that alders wouldn’t have enough say. As 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn put it, these units would affect 

“the uniqueness of each and every neighborhood."

. "I don't know what alderman in their right mind wants to give up that authority,” he said, referring to aldermanic preference on zoning policy.

Aldermanic prerogative can influence wards beyond construction zoning, too. In April, hemp sales were banned in the 9th and 10th wards, which include the Roseland, Pullman, East Side and South Chicago neighborhoods, thanks to a push from those alders. 

Before that, Quinn and Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) successfully banned hemp sales in their wards by prohibiting new licenses for “retail tobacco stores” around Midway. Despite no broader ban, these changes occur ward by ward. And that’s no accident.

“The design of the legislature is one that chops up our city into 50 districts and gets people to pay attention to their local wards,” William Howell, now dean of the School of Government and Policy at Johns Hopkins University, 

. “Then it's hard to attend citywide issues.”

More about alders and hemp 🍃

It's called aldermanic prerogative. Here's how it works.

What Is Aldermanic Prerogative in Chicago?

How Alders Maintain Control of Their Ward

Chicago’s longest-serving current alder is retiring this week — and his son might replace him. As Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) exits the role, 

possibly to lead the Chicago Housing Authority

, the choice is up to Mayor Brandon Johnson.

 Walter Redmond Burnett to get the job. The younger Burnett is a 29-year-old 

Do you know your City Council nepotism hires? Test your knowledge in today’s quiz 👇

As another alder's seat may pass from father to son, we look at other familial relations in Chicago's City Council.

City Council Nepo Babies: The Quiz

City Council  eliminated parking mandates for most new residential properties.

, as alders hope to spur residential construction and ease Chicago’s affordable housing strain.

What Do Parking Mandates Have to Do With Housing?

When developers build a new apartment or condo building, they’re usually required to add in parking spaces — up to 

developers could ask for an exemption if they were building close to CTA or Metra stops

. But housing advocates argue that step presents a barrier to new construction, especially when over 70% of the city is technically transit-served. (See breakdown on 

, and more than half of Chicagoans spend over 30% of income on rent and utilities.

Now, with the exception of downtown and Metra-only zones, builders don’t need special permission to skip parking. That opens up more than half of the city to new residential development with less red tape.

 may worry about increased competition for street parking, Chicago’s 

 found that Chicago apartment parking exceeded demand, especially near public transit.

Hopefully, those transit hubs remain. Illinoisans are currently awaiting lawmakers’ answer to the 

🤔 How well do you know the CTA?

Proponents hope the move will lead to more new housing construction.

What Reduced Parking Mandates Mean For Chicago

It’s still participatory budget season in Chicago! But wait … what does that mean?

Every year, each alder receives $1.5 million to spend on ward infrastructure. Some wards ask the public how to spend it. (Check age restrictions too — in many wards, teens under 18 can vote.)

Wards that have participated in participatory budgeting include:

 (Logan Square, Wicker Park, West Town): Voting has ended.

 (Chinatown, Bridgeport, McKinley Park): No plans are listed for the 2025-2026 cycle yet.

 (McKinley Park, Brighton Park): Voting has ended

 (Pilsen, Little Village): Voting has ended

 (Humboldt Park, Hermosa): Voting opens in November.

 (Austin, Montclare): The 29th Ward is collecting ideas until

 (Albany Park, Avondale): The 33rd Ward is still collecting ideas. 

 (Logan Square, Avondale): Voting has ended.

 (Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin): No plans are listed for the 2025-2026 cycle yet.

 (Forest Glen, North Park, Albany Park): The 39th Ward is still collecting ideas. 

 (Lincoln Square, West Ridge): The 40th Ward’s People's Budget, as it's called, is still collecting ideas. 

 (Ravenswood, North Center, Lakeview): Voting has ended.

 (Andersonville, Edgewater, Uptown): The 48th Ward is still collecting ideas. Submit 

 (Rogers Park, West Ridge): No plans are listed for the 2025-2026 cycle yet.

Since this money comes from capital infrastructure funds, improvements are tied to physical space. That’s how Alex Linares, formerly the economic development planner at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, 

Why should Chicagoans get involved in this process?

“Participatory budgeting is transparent,” Linarre said. “You’re not just looking at what gets funded, but how. It’s also more equitable … If we see that most people [voting] in the area are higher income, volunteers and staff can ask, ‘How do we do better outreach and engagement?’"

Weigh in on Your Ward’s Budget

School’s out — on Thursday. That means Pedro Martinez is out soon too. The 

 contract ends next week. And there’s still no 2026 budget.

 that hinged on an additional $300 million from the city and state. However, the legislative session in Springfield recently ended without that funding. The school district is also hoping for funds from a city TIF surplus, as was the case in 2025, but that’s no guarantee.

Likely, CPS’ budget shortfall will be close to $529 million. Without that money, the district may eliminate 

The fiscal year for CPS technically begins July 1, but the school board has until its

 is scheduled to focus on choosing Martinez’ temporary replacement. 

Three candidates are in the official running:

Macquline King, the city’s senior director of educational policy

Alfonso Carmona, CPS chief portfolio officer

Nicole Milberg, CPS chief of teaching and learning.

multiple internal investigations at the school

Notably, all three candidates have a superintendent’s license. That new requirement was the subject of recent debate, as 

Local Civics

Your Last-Minute Election Guide

The Primary Races to Watch

Donald Trump and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week in Court

Latest articles

Why You Can Thank Chicago for Labor Day

How Alders Maintain Control of Their Ward

City Council Nepo Babies: The Quiz

What Reduced Parking Mandates Mean For Chicago

Weigh in on Your Ward’s Budget

What’s Going on With the CPS Budget?

What Did — and Didn’t — Pass in Springfield