CHICAGO (WLS) — In a growing contest for the mayor’s office in Chicago, another hopeful has stepped forward, adding to the expanding roster of candidates aiming to take charge of the city’s leadership on the fifth floor of city hall.
This latest entrant into the mayoral race is Doctor Lisa Nee.
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A respected cardiologist and a seasoned healthcare executive based in Chicago, Nee is recognized for her whistleblowing activities that brought to light patient care issues at the Hines VA Hospital, leveraging her prior experience as an ICU nurse.
She formally announced the start of her mayoral bid on Tuesday morning, joining a competitive race with no fewer than eight other candidates already in pursuit.
Among the current contenders are some notable figures in the political sphere, including U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas, former CHA Chair Matt Brewer, and politicians Liam Stanton and Joe Holberg. Meanwhile, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has confirmed her candidacy but intends to delay the official start of her campaign until after the 2026 election cycle.
Illinois Secretary of State Alex Giannoulias is also rumored to be considering a run.
Current Mayor Brandon Johnson expected to seek a second term, but has not officially declared.
The first round of voting in the city is set to take place on February 23, 2027.
If a candidate doesn’t get a majority of the vote in the first election, then there’ll be a run-off election set for Tuesday, April 6.
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