
Susan Mendoza
Who will win the Chicago mayoral election?
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age54 years old (May 13, 1972)
GenderFemale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundPolitician
EducationTruman State University — B.A., Business Administration
Notable personal detailsSusana A. Mendoza is an American politician and Democrat who has served as Illinois State Comptroller since December 5, 2016, after previously serving as Chicago City Clerk (2011–2016) and as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2001–2011). She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Truman State University. She has been a candidate for mayor of Chicago (2019) and has been discussed as a potential contender for the 2027 Chicago mayoral election.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports fiscal restraint and taxpayer protections, emphasizing timely payment of bills, budget stability, and opposition to new local taxes such as a commuter/head tax; has criticized large bond proposals as fiscally risky. Positions prioritize reducing backlog of unpaid bills, improving transparency, and limiting tax increases.
Healthcare
Supports maintaining and prioritizing government-funded health programs and payments to providers, with a focus on funding Medicaid bills, hospice centers, nursing homes, and services for children and adults with disabilities. Emphasizes using the comptroller’s office to ensure timely payment and fiscal support for vulnerable populations and health-related services.
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Immigration & Border
Supports Chicago remaining a sanctuary/welcoming city, opposes aggressive ICE actions against immigrant families, and favors expanding the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance while adding due-process protections for people with pending felony charges or open warrants. Emphasizes keeping families together and supporting immigrant communities and services.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive health care in Illinois, describes the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a serious setback for reproductive rights, and says Illinois should remain a safe haven for people seeking abortion care.
Climate & Energy
Supports creating green jobs and investing in clean energy, holding polluters accountable, and committing Chicago to the standards of the Paris Climate Accords while pursuing workforce transition to a clean-energy economy.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strengthened regulations to reduce illegal guns coming into Chicago (including working with state lawmakers on licensing/security for dealers), expanded enforcement against illegal traffickers and strong penalties for serious gun crimes, while also investing in community violence prevention and police reform (implementing the consent decree, community policing, crisis intervention training).
News
Susan Mendoza is being mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2027 Chicago mayor’s race, where she is already drawing attention in polling and fundraising reports. A recent fundraising update put her at about $1.6 million, which trails Alexi Giannoulias but is ahead of several other possible contenders. She also appears in polling as a better-known alternative to Mayor Brandon Johnson, though the surveys note that many voters still do not know enough about her.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising






