Jade Carpenter Withdrew from Evanston Mayoral Race

The candidate dropped out of the contest, leaving six others competing to succeed Mayor Daniel Biss.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a ballot box on a pedestal in front of a municipal building facade. — Jade Carpenter has withdrawn from the Evanston mayoral race to focus on personal commitments, leaving six candidates remaining to succeed Mayor Daniel Biss. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jade Carpenter has withdrawn her candidacy for mayor of Evanston, citing personal time constraints. Her departure leaves six remaining candidates in the race as the city prepares for upcoming leadership changes.

Why it matters

The race for Evanston mayor is intensifying as the city approaches a transition in leadership following the upcoming resignation of Mayor Daniel Biss. Residents will navigate a primary in early 2027 to decide who will lead the city's future.

Official filings show Carpenter raised $4,500 for her campaign committee. Six other candidates are expected to file petitions this fall to appear on the ballot for the primary election.

The players

Jade Carpenter

She is a local attorney who briefly campaigned for the office of mayor in Evanston.

Daniel Biss

He is the current mayor of Evanston who is resigning to pursue a seat in the U.S. Congress.

The details

Carpenter filed her campaign committee paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections in July 2026. She ultimately stepped aside to focus on her legal practice, daughter, and extended family commitments.

In early July 2026, Carpenter filed her campaign committee paperwork.
On September 22, 2026, Carpenter announced her withdrawal.
At midnight on October 18, 2026, Mayor Daniel Biss will resign.
On February 23, 2027, the city will hold the mayoral primary election.
On April 6, 2027, the city will hold the mayoral runoff election.

Political Context

The withdrawal follows the established procedures of the Illinois State Board of Elections campaign fundraising disclosure requirements. Candidates who exit a race must reconcile their committees after previously submitting their formal declarations of intent.

The withdrawal narrows the field of options for Evanston voters as they prepare for the primary election in February. Residents will need to monitor the upcoming petition filings this fall to see which of the remaining six candidates officially qualify for the ballot.

The takeaway

Voters should keep an eye on upcoming petition deadlines to track which candidates remain in contention for the mayoral seat. Understanding the timeline for the city's leadership transition is essential for residents planning to participate in the 2027 election.