Where money is going in aldermanic elections without an incumbent

Sixteen wards in Chicago’s upcoming municipal election will have an open seat. This means for those 16 seats, there will not be someone running as an incumbent alderperson. Some of the people running for those seats are new political upcomers, some are grassroots organizers, and some just have the right amount of money and platform that might translate into enough clout to have enough votes to snag a seat. The new candidates vary politically, endorsing just about everyone who is running for mayor, but they all need something to get there: money.

So, here is your handy dandy, at a glance view of what it takes to run for alderperson in the city of Chicago. As you will see, between today and the election on February 28, different wards have different needs, so let’s see how that makes a difference. 

Which wards get the most money? 

Who’s spending the most money in your ward?

Which candidates got the most money?

And where are they getting that money from?

Is it better to have union endorsements, or legacy endorsements from established politicians? Does it matter how much money you raise for your own campaign? How much money is too much money?

Find out on election day: Tuesday, February 28.

Header Illustration by Dayna Teemer