Wilson Campaign Challenges Johnson’s Mayoral Petitions
Rickey Hendon, a former state senator working with businessman Willie Wilson’s campaign, filed an objection to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s nominating petitions on November 2. Candidates need at least 12,500 valid signatures to qualify for Chicago’s February 23, 2027, mayoral ballot. Johnson has said he submitted about 33,000 signatures.
Hendon alleged that Johnson’s filing included photocopied signatures, sheets bearing the name of City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, and problems with petition circulators. Wilson’s campaign said its review found irregularities and estimated that about 5,000 signatures were valid. It asked election officials to scrutinize the contested petition sheets and enforce the rules consistently.
Johnson’s political director, Christian Perry, said the campaign was confident its petitions would withstand a challenge. Johnson has also said he has more than enough signatures to secure a place on the ballot. If enough signatures are rejected, he could need affidavits from signers to meet the required minimum.
The objection is among challenges filed against multiple mayoral candidates, including Susana Mendoza, Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas. The objections will be reviewed by hearing officers through the Chicago Board of Elections. The challenge process is scheduled to continue until December 17, when the final mayoral ballot is to be certified.
Petition Challenge Puts Johnson’s Ballot Access at Risk
A challenge by Willie Wilson’s campaign has put Mayor Brandon Johnson’s access to the Chicago mayoral ballot under review. Rickey Hendon, a former state senator working with Wilson, filed the objection on November 2, alleging problems with Johnson’s petitions. Candidates need 12,500 valid signatures; Johnson has said he filed about 33,000.
Wilson’s campaign alleges that the filing includes photocopies, sheets bearing City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin’s name and other irregularities. It estimates that only about 5,000 signatures are valid and wants election officials to scrutinize the disputed sheets. Those are allegations, not a final determination by the elections board.
Johnson’s political director, Christian Perry, said the campaign is confident it has enough signatures to survive the challenge. But the process could force the incumbent to spend time and campaign resources defending his filing. If the number of valid signatures falls short, Johnson could need affidavits from signers to reach the threshold.
The objection is part of a wider round of challenges against candidates, including Susana Mendoza, Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas. Petition challenges are a regular feature of Chicago elections, but critics have called the process undemocratic. Election officials will review the objections, with the final mayoral ballot due to be certified on December 17.
Wilson Demands Equal Review of Johnson’s Ballot Petitions
Mayor Brandon Johnson should face the same signature rules as every other candidate. That is the case Willie Wilson’s campaign is making in its November 2 challenge to Johnson’s nominating petitions. Rickey Hendon, a former state senator working with Wilson, alleges the filing contains photocopies, sheets bearing City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin’s name and other problems.
Candidates need 12,500 valid signatures to qualify. Wilson’s campaign estimates that only about 5,000 of Johnson’s signatures are valid and has called for election officials to review the contested petition material. The campaign says the rules should be enforced consistently, regardless of a candidate’s office.
Johnson says he filed about 33,000 signatures, and his political director, Christian Perry, is confident the petitions will withstand the challenge. That figure would give the mayor a substantial cushion if most signatures hold up. If enough are rejected, however, he could need affidavits from signers to meet the minimum.
Challenges have also been filed against several other mayoral candidates, including Susana Mendoza, Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas. The objections will go through hearings before the Chicago Board of Elections, with the final mayoral ballot scheduled for certification on December 17. The question now is whether Johnson’s filing can meet the same threshold candidates are required to clear.
Reported by Chicago Sun-Times, Block Club Chicago, FOX 32 Chicago.
