Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, who has polled potential voters about a possible bid for Chicago mayor in 2023, launched a new political campaign committee Friday.
The North Side Democrat, who represents the 5th Congressional District, named the committee “Quigley for Chicago” and paperwork states the purpose of the committee is “To Support Mike Quigley for Public Office.” Quigley declined to comment Friday afternoon.
The committee’s creation does not mean Quigley will run for mayor. But creating such a committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections is a necessary step for local candidates to run for office and use to pay for political polling in a local race such as mayor. That’s because Quigley’s other political committee, which he uses to run for his congressional seat, cannot be used for polling or any other costs tied to a possible mayoral run.
Quigley has been Illinois’ 5th District congressman since 2009 when he replaced Rahm Emanuel, who stepped down from the seat to be President Barack Obama’s chief of staff. Emanuel then ran for mayor in 2011. Quigley serves a district that covers North and Northwest Side neighborhoods as well as suburbs in west Cook County.
The creation of the committee comes days after Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, announced he was running for mayor next year. Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara has also said he plans to run for mayor.
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Meanwhile, businessman Willie Wilson, who’s recently made headlines for gas giveaways, is set on Monday to announce whether he will join the race.
Many other names have been discussed as possible 2023 mayoral candidates, including Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, and Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd. Others include former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, state Reps. Kam Buckner and La Shawn Ford, Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates, former city Building Commissioner Judy Frydland and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has not formally declared that she will run for reelection but it is widely expected that she will seek a second term. In January, she told the Tribune her work as mayor isn’t done “and I’m yielding to no one.”
