Paul Vallas
Democratic candidate for Mayor in Illinois
$111.3K
FEB 24, 2027
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Paul Vallas is trading at 0% to win the Chicago Mayor winner? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleEducation administrator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age73 years old (Jun 10, 1953)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundEducation administrator
Notable personal detailsPaul Gust Vallas is an American politician and education administrator who served as Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Schools and later led school systems in other U.S. cities. He previously worked in Chicago city government as revenue director and budget director under Mayor Richard M. Daley. He was a candidate for Mayor of Chicago in 2019 and again in 2023, advancing to the 2023 runoff election.
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Paul Vallas opposes broad new city tax increases and supports capping individual property-tax growth while seeking to balance the budget by repurposing TIF surpluses, cutting waste, and expanding revenue from legalized gambling and other non-tax sources. He has said he would not support a city income tax and favors internal budget reforms rather than raising property or business taxes.
Healthcare
Supports restoring and funding retiree health benefits for city employees and requiring nondiscrimination and coverage for transgender-related care across city agencies and contractors. Advocates using city budget priorities to extend employee health benefits and has signaled support for expanding access to health coverage at the municipal level.
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Immigration & Border
Supports Chicago’s Welcoming City policy and continuation of services to immigrants and students regardless of status, while stating the city should cooperate with federal authorities in cases involving violent criminals. Has called for state action to manage migrant arrivals and suggested using state resources (including National Guard bases) to shelter or process migrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate says he personally opposes abortion for religious reasons but publicly supports and will protect women’s reproductive rights and access to abortion in Chicago, describing the city as a reproductive "safe haven."
Climate & Energy
Paul Vallas supports reestablishing a City Department of Environment, pursuing stormwater and urban-tree management and accelerating transitions to renewable energy through conservation and green infrastructure measures while enforcing pollution rules. His proposals emphasize moderate climate investments, infrastructure adaptation, waste reduction and environmental-justice standards rather than radical fossil-fuel phaseouts or Green New Deal–style federal commitments.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded gun-control measures including stronger background checks and waiting periods, while prioritizing aggressive prosecution and sentencing for gun law violators; favors restoring proactive, community-based policing and does not support defunding the police.
Latest News
Paul Vallas is in the news because Chicago’s ethics board fined him $214,000 over campaign finance violations tied to donations from people doing business with the city during his 2023 mayoral run. He says he will appeal the ruling. Recent coverage also places him in the broader 2027 Chicago mayoral conversation, where the race is starting to take shape with more candidates entering.
Chicago ethics board fines former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas $214,000 over campaign finance violations
Paul Vallas fined $214K over illegal city campaign donations
The Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz for April 18
Conservatives aren't the only ones anymore saying Democrats have a public-sector-union problem
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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