Gutierrez Files for Second Term in 14th Ward

Ald. Jeylu B. Gutierrez and challenger Raul Reyes have both filed petitions to run for the 14th Ward seat in next year's municipal election.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in City Hall

Gutierrez Files for Second Term in 14th Ward

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Ald. Jeylu B. Gutierrez has filed to run for a second term representing Chicago's 14th Ward, and Raul Reyes has filed to challenge her again. Gutierrez, the ward's first Latina alderperson, defeated Reyes in the 2023 election with 65 percent of the vote to his 35 percent.

Why it matters

The rematch puts a ward once held for decades by Ed Burke back into a contested race, with Gutierrez's committee and Reyes' committee both drawing outside financial support. The outcome will determine who represents Gage Park, Archer Heights, and parts of Brighton Park and Chicago Lawn on the City Council.

Gutierrez won the 2023 race with 65 percent of the vote to Reyes' 35 percent, and her committee has raised more than $60,000 since January. Reyes received a $50,000 donation from former Rep. Dan Burke in both the 2023 cycle and again in late October, and the full extent of outside spending in the coming race is not yet known.

The players

Jeylu B. Gutierrez

Gutierrez is the first Latina alderperson of Chicago's 14th Ward, previously having served as a district director for county Commissioner Alma Anaya and as a counselor at several Chicago Public Schools.

Raul Reyes

Reyes is a project coordinator for the Chicago Department of Transportation who previously ran unsuccessfully for alderman of the 15th Ward in 2015.

Ed Burke

Burke represented the 14th Ward from 1969 until his federal indictment on racketeering, bribery, and corruption charges, and he was later sentenced to two years in prison.

Jesus "Chuy" Garcia

Garcia is a U.S. Representative from Illinois who is backing Gutierrez in the race.

The details

Both candidates filed petitions to run for the 14th Ward office in next year's municipal election. Gutierrez, who previously worked as district director for county Commissioner Alma Anaya and in several Chicago Public Schools roles, is backed by U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

2015: Reyes unsuccessfully ran for alderman of the 15th Ward.
2023: Gutierrez defeated Reyes and succeeded Ed Burke in the 14th Ward.
2024: Ed Burke was sentenced to two years in prison.
Late October: Reyes' committee received a $50,000 donation from the Committee to Elect Dan Burke.
November 10, 2026: Gutierrez and Reyes filed petitions for the next municipal election.

Political Context

The 14th Ward has been shaped by Ed Burke's decades in office, which ended with his federal conviction and two-year prison sentence in 2024. Gutierrez's bid for a second term marks the ward's first post-Burke electoral test, and Reyes's challenge tests whether the new alderperson can hold the seat.

Voters in Gage Park, Archer Heights, and parts of Brighton Park and Chicago Lawn will choose between Gutierrez and Reyes in the next municipal election. The result determines which candidate represents the ward's local services and City Council votes.

The takeaway

Ward races in Chicago often hinge on turnout and campaign funding, so residents who want to weigh in should review each candidate's stated priorities before election day. Tracking the petition filings and disclosed contributions can help voters understand who is backing each campaign.