Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois’ Secretary Of State, Enters Chicago Mayor’s Race 22%
By Quinn Myers28%
8/2/2026, 7:02:00 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 21 faulty reasoning types, including Anchoring Bias, Ambiguity (Equivocation), and Fundamental Attribution Error, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 9.5% saturation with 92 hits. Analysis detected 825 faulty-reasoning hits from 971 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 30.4% and a BS Rank of 22% (20,593 of 26,282 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 78.40% of the article peer group.
CHICAGO — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has made it official: he’s running for Chicago mayor.
Giannoulias made the long-expected announcement Sunday morning in a video posted on social media .
He held a campaign launch event later in the day at the IBEW Local 134 union hall in Bronzeville.
The incumbent secretary of state joins an already-crowded field of candidates attempting to replace Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has not yet formally announced his reelection plans.
The 2027 mayoral election is Feb.
23.
A runoff election will take place April 6 if no candidate garners at least 50 percent of the vote in the first round — a highly likely possibility with so many people expected to run.
Also in the race are outgoing Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza , North Side U.S.
Rep.
Mike Quigley , former Ald.
George Cardenas and CHA board member Matt Brewer, among several others.
Giannoulias has served as Illinois’ secretary of state since 2023, and is currently running for reelection on Nov. 3 — meaning he’ll ask voters to support him for two different positions at the same time.
In remarks on Sunday that lasted about 15 minutes, Giannoulias spoke about supporting a higher minimum wage and building more housing that people “can actually afford.”
He also hinted that he would back new taxes on millionaires, although he didn’t share details.
“If you’ve achieved extraordinary success in this city, that makes me happy.
Your success is an inspiration to so many people, and I applaud you,” Giannoulias said.
“But I’m humbly asking you to help and lead in this fight to turn Chicago around.
I will ask you to use your success to help lift up others, so that they can also achieve the American Dream.
But, I’ll only do so after I’ve proven that the city will run efficiently.”
Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s announcement, Giannoulias said he’s supportive of bringing back the controversial gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter, which Johnson canceled in 2024.
He also said he wants to hire 1,000 new Chicago police officers, to be paid for possibly by reigning in police overtime or civilianizing certain desk jobs — an idea mayoral candidates have pushed for year.
Giannoulias also sharply criticized federal immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago, although he said the city’s mayor should be open to meeting with the White House.
“ICE has terrorized our neighborhoods, our communities, our families.
It has not made us a safer, better place,” he said.
In his announcement video Sunday, Giannoulias called for universal pre-K, higher wages and a “fairer” tax system that protects working families.
At the campaign launch, Giannoulias didn’t say how much he’d like to raise Chicago’s minimum wage — currently $17.05 an hour — but that his campaign would share more details in the coming weeks.
Hundreds of people, many of them union workers, had filtered in to the Local 134 hall by noon Sunday to see Giannoulias make his announcement.
Elected officials in attendance included Alds.
Brian Hopkins (2nd), Michelle Harris (8th), Derrick Curtis (18th) Felix Cardona (31st), Emma Mitts (37th) and Timmy Knudsen (43rd).
Community members show support for the announcement of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ mayoral run on August 2, 2026.
Credit: Ash Lane for Block Club Chicago
Giannoulias has long been a known name in Chicago and Illinois politics, including for his frequent pick-up basketball games with former President Barack Obama .
Giannoulias played basketball in college and then professionally in Greece.
Back in Illinois, he served as state treasurer from 2007-2011 before unsuccessfully running for the U.S.
Senate in 2010, when he lost to Republican Mark Kirk.
That campaign was hindered by the collapse of Broadway Bank , which Giannoulias’ family had run for decades.
As secretary of state, Giannoulias has overseen Illinois’ transition to Real IDs and offered digital drivers licenses , as well as backed legislation banning book bans at libraries .
He’s also been a prolific social media user, with some posts — including of him wearing a wet T-shirt at the 2023 Pride parade and annual videos reading aloud rejected vanity plate submissions — going viral.
Giannoulias’ mayoral candidacy has been rumored for months as he amassed a massive political war chest, despite running uncontested in the Democratic secretary of state primary in March.
His campaign in June reported almost $22 million on hand, a staggering sum that dwarfs what other mayoral candidates have been able to pull in so far.
Major donations have come from both powerful unions as well as wealthy business people, such as real estate tycoon Neil Bluhm , who recently contributed $500,000 to the Giannoulias campaign, according to state records .
In comparison, Mendoza’s campaign committee reported about $1.6 million.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announces his run for mayor of Chicago at IBEW Local 134 in Bronzeville on Aug.
2, 2026.
Credit: Ash Lane for Block Club Chicago
Johnson has had even greater fundraising woes, reporting only $631,000 in June.
The incumbent mayor continues to dodge questions about when — or if — he will announce his reelection campaign.
Giannoulias also aired two new ads last month that fueled questions about his political future.
The ads highlighted his work streamlining DMV services, opposing book bans and opposing President Donald Trump.
When asked about running for two public offices at the same time, Giannoulias likened the situation to applying for a job.
“I also love this city very much.
I think we’ve got some enormous challenges, and I want to be part of the solution,” he said.
“Running for mayor is like interviewing for a job, a really hard job.
And just like anything else, when you’re running for a job, you don’t quit the one you’re in while you’re interviewing for that one.”
Speakers
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86%flagged-word coverageAlexi Giannoulias
161 attributed words100% of attributed speech55% writer coverage
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