Taliaferro Faces Two Challengers in 29th Ward
Ald. Chris Taliaferro seeks a fourth term as challengers' ballot petitions face objections before the Chicago Board of Elections.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections
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Ald. Chris Taliaferro is seeking a fourth term on the Chicago City Council, running against James Morgan and Yvette McKinnie in the 29th Ward. Objections to Morgan's and McKinnie's ballot petitions will be heard by the Chicago Board of Elections.
Why it matters
The board's ruling will determine which candidates make the ballot for the February 23 municipal election in the 29th Ward. The outcome shapes who will represent Austin, Belmont Cragin, Galewood, Dunning and Montclare residents on the City Council.
The Chicago Board of Elections will hear objections to Morgan's and McKinnie's petitions, with rulings expected by mid-December. The municipal election is scheduled for February 23, and the board's decision will set the final ballot.
The players
Chris Taliaferro
Chris Taliaferro is a Chicago alderman who previously served 23 years with the Chicago Police Department before his first election to the City Council in 2015.
Chicago Board of Elections
The Chicago Board of Elections is the city body responsible for administering municipal elections and ruling on the validity of candidate nominating petitions.
The details
Taliaferro, first elected in 2015 after a 23-year Chicago Police career, chairs the council's police and fire committee and launched his reelection campaign on July 14. His challengers, Morgan and McKinnie, have both drawn objections to their ballot petitions that the board must resolve.
Timeline
July 14: Taliaferro holds his reelection campaign kick-off event.
2023: Taliaferro wins a runoff against Johnson by 12 votes.
Mid-December: The Board of Elections rules on petition challenges and the final ballot slate.
February 23: Municipal election day in Chicago.
Political Context
Ballot access in Chicago aldermanic races is decided through the Board of Elections' petition-objection process, which can remove candidates before voters ever weigh in. Challenges like those facing Morgan and McKinnie test whether opposing candidates can meet the filing requirements that incumbents often face less scrutiny over.
Residents of the 29th Ward will see only the candidates who survive the petition challenges on their February 23 ballot. Voters should confirm the final candidate list once the Board of Elections issues its mid-December ruling.
The takeaway
Ballot access can be decided before a single vote is cast, so the mid-December petition ruling will shape the 29th Ward race as much as the campaigns themselves. Voters should track that decision closely.
What happens next
The Chicago Board of Elections will rule on the petition challenges by mid-December, setting the final ballot slate ahead of the February 23 municipal election.
Further reading
For broader context on local races, explore Elections coverage across Chicago.
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