Lawsuit Seeks To Stop Giannoulias, Pappas, Quigley From Running for Mayor, Other Offices At Same Time

CHICAGO — A Chicago mayoral candidate is asking a Cook County judge to decide whether three Democratic officeholders can simultaneously run for mayor and seek reelection to their current jobs.

William Quinlan, who announced his candidacy for mayor last week, is arguing that a recent change to Illinois’ election calendar has created a legal conflict that did not exist in previous election cycles. 

He filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

The lawsuit centers on a change Illinois lawmakers made to the election calendar in 2024 that moved up the filing period for Chicago’s next mayoral election, which is set for Feb. 23.

Candidates for mayor will file their nominating petitions Oct. 19-26, while Giannoulias, Quigley and Pappas are already certified Democratic candidates for reelection to their current offices in the Nov. 3 general election. About a dozen candidates have already announced their intention to run.

That creates an overlap that did not exist in previous election cycles. Quinlan argues that under Illinois law, candidates who seek two offices that cannot legally be held by the same person must choose one of them. 

He says the three would have until Nov. 2 — one day before the general election — to withdraw from one of the races.

Quinlan, an attorney who has frequently worked with high-profile politicians and officials across Illinois, is asking a judge to rule on the issue before the mayoral filing period begins Oct. 19.

Quinlan rejected the idea that the lawsuit was an attempt to boost his mayoral campaign.

“I’m not playing games here,” Quinlan told Block Club Chicago. “The people that are playing games are the ones that are on the ballot in November for jobs they allegedly don’t want, but we don’t have a right to choose that person.”

Giannoulias’ campaign did not respond to a question about whether he plans to pursue both races. In a statement, a campaign spokesperson said “Alexi focuses on talking with Chicagoans about the issues they care about — making Chicago a safer, more affordable place to live.”

Giannoulias and Quigley did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Pappas told Block Club Chicago she is not currently a candidate for mayor and declined to comment on the lawsuit. But canvassers have been seen collecting signatures to get her on the ballot earlier this month in Logan Square.

The lawsuit argues that each of the three offices conflicts with the mayor’s job in a different way.

For Giannoulias, Quinlan points to the Secretary of State’s statewide responsibilities and its regulatory and supervisory functions involving municipalities. 

For Quigley, the lawsuit points to the competing responsibilities of serving in Congress and running Chicago, including the federal government’s role in issues affecting the city.

For Pappas, Quinlan argues that the county treasurer’s responsibilities involving property-tax money and local governments conflict with the duties of Chicago’s mayor.

Quinlan said his motivation for filing the lawsuit is tied to what he sees as broader problems facing Chicago.

“The motive is very simple: That Chicago is in a very, very tough situation financially and otherwise and you ask yourself how did we get here,” Quinlan said. “We got here by people caring more about getting reelected and protecting their government jobs and their public official status than actually taking care of people and building a system for the long game for the city than actually trying to act on behalf of Chicagoans and the next generation.”

The lawsuit also argues that the timing could create problems for the November election.

If one of the three waits until Nov. 2 to withdraw from one of the races, Quinlan argues, there would not be enough time for their political party to replace them before the Nov. 3 election. State law generally prevents political parties from filling certain nomination vacancies that occur within 15 days of a general election.

Quinlan argues that could leave Democratic voters without an effective nominee for secretary of state, the 5th Congressional District or Cook County treasurer.

The Illinois State Board of Elections and Chicago Board of Election Commissioners are also named as defendants because they have responsibilities for certifying candidates and preparing ballots. Neither board is accused of wrongdoing. 

Giannoulias announced his mayoral campaign Aug. 2, while Quigley announced his June 27. Quinlan announced his own campaign Sept. 15. 

Quinlan is asking the judge to determine whether the three offices are incompatible with the mayor’s office and, if so, what election officials must do if any of the candidates do not choose between the races.

Legal merits aside, it’s not unusual for Illinois politicians to run in both the November elections and then seek to become mayor in February.

In 2019, Johnson won reelection on the Cook County Board before winning the race for mayor. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia won reelection in the U.S. House of Representatives and Kam Buckner won his bid to return to the Illinois statehouse before running.

In 2023, Toni Preckwinkle was reelected for Cook County Board President before losing in the runoff for mayor to Lori Lightfoot. La Shawn Ford won reelection to the Illinois house before his unsucessful mayor bid. Voters returned Susan Mendoza to the office of Illinois State Comptroller before unsuccessfully campaigning for mayor. She’s trying again this cycle, but isn’t running in the state race.

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