Susan Mendoza
Democratic candidate for Mayor in Illinois
$90.1K
FEB 24, 2027
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — Chicago Mayor winner?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
17%chance to win
$90.1KFEB 24, 2027Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleOther
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age54 years old (May 13, 1972)
GenderFemale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundIllinois Comptroller
EducationBolingbrook High School
Notable personal detailsSusana A. Mendoza is the Illinois Comptroller, taking office on December 5, 2016, and winning reelection in 2018 and 2022. She previously served six terms in the Illinois House of Representatives (2001–2011) and was elected Chicago City Clerk in 2011. She graduated from Bolingbrook High School and earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Truman State University. In June 2026, she launched a campaign for the 2027 Chicago mayoral election.
SourcesShowHide
Political 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).
Latest News
Susana Mendoza has entered the 2027 Chicago mayoral race and is now campaigning as a challenger to Mayor Brandon Johnson. She is pitching herself as a fiscal reform candidate, saying she would tackle the city’s large pension crisis and consider spending cuts and other tough budget moves. Recent reports also show her preparing for the petition-qualification phase as the race takes shape, with fundraising and ballot access becoming key early tests.
The Tribune Quotes of the Week for June 6
The race for Chicago's future is underway
State Comptroller Mendoza enters mayoral race, takes shots at Mayor Johnson, Giannoulias
One potential Chicago mayoral candidate has huge fundraising edge
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising