Objections Filed Against 7 Aurora Council Candidates
Electoral Board will hear challenges to petition sheets for the April 2027 consolidated election.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in City Hall
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Objections have been filed against seven of the 25 candidates running for Aurora City Council in the April 2027 election. The Aurora Electoral Board will hear the challenges at 9 a.m. Monday in council chambers at Aurora City Hall.
Why it matters
The objections claim petition sheets were incomplete, unnumbered, missing office names, or contained invalid signatures, and their outcome could change who appears on the April ballot. If objections to 8th Ward candidates are approved, three candidates instead of five would be on the ballot.
Seven of 25 candidates face objections to their petition sheets, with eight people filing for the open 5th Ward seat. If the 8th Ward objections succeed, the field would shrink from five candidates to three, and a primary would be avoided.
The players
Aurora Electoral Board
The municipal body responsible for hearing and ruling on challenges to candidates' nomination petitions in Aurora, Illinois.
Daniel Barreiro
An Aurora alderman who filed an objection against his sole opponent in the 1st Ward and against Hugo Saltijeral's petition signatures.
Carl Franco
The current 5th Ward alderman who announced in July that he would not seek reelection, opening the seat to eight filers.
The details
Ald. Daniel Barreiro filed an objection against his sole opponent in the 1st Ward, and Gregory Jackman filed three objections to 5th Ward candidates. Linda Grula objected to two candidates running against incumbent Patty Smith in the 8th Ward, and Char Petersen objected to David Smith in the at-large race. The last day to submit objections was Nov. 2.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: Last day to submit objections and ballot placement lottery held.
Monday in November 2026: Aurora Electoral Board hears objections at 9 a.m.
Feb. 23, 2027: Primary election, if needed.
April 6, 2027: Consolidated election scheduled.
City Hall Context
Challenges to candidate petition sheets under Illinois election procedures can remove names from the ballot before any voter sees them. Aurora's crowded field, with eight filers for one ward, follows a pattern where open seats draw more challengers.
Voters in the 5th, 8th, and at-large races may see a different set of candidates on the April 6, 2027 ballot depending on the Electoral Board's rulings. If a primary is needed, residents will have to return to the polls on Feb. 23 before the consolidated election.
The takeaway
Aurora residents who want to know who will appear on the April ballot should watch the Electoral Board hearing and any resulting primary schedule. Candidate lists can change until the board rules.
What happens next
The Aurora Electoral Board will hear the objections at 9 a.m. Monday, and a primary election on Feb. 23, 2027 will follow if one is required.
Further reading
For more on local election administration, see City Hall coverage in Aurora.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Tribune.
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