Evanston City Council Will Vote on Acting Mayor

The city council will hold a vote to select an acting mayor on October 26.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Elections

Evanston City Council Will Vote on Acting Mayor

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Alderman Clare Kelly delayed the vote to select an acting mayor for Evanston until October 26. This action follows the scheduled resignation of Mayor Daniel Biss on October 18.

Why it matters

The chosen acting mayor will serve the remainder of the mayoral term, which continues until 2027. Alderman Clare Kelly cited scheduling conflicts for some alders as the reason for the delay in selecting the temporary successor.

Candidates for the permanent mayor position must submit 946 valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot. The acting mayor will serve until a successor is elected in 2027.

The players

Daniel Biss

He is the outgoing mayor of Evanston who is also a candidate for U.S. Representative.

Clare Kelly

She is an Evanston alder who serves as mayor pro tem and oversees the transition process.

Stephanie Mendoza

She serves as the City Clerk and has recused herself from the mayoral candidate filing process.

The details

Alderman Clare Kelly, who assumes the role of mayor pro tem following the resignation of Daniel Biss, used her authority to reschedule the vote. Meanwhile, City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza has recused herself from the candidate filing process that begins October 19.

Mayor Daniel Biss resigns his office at midnight on October 18, 2026.
The candidate filing period for mayor opens on October 19, 2026.
The city council vote to select an acting mayor occurs on October 26, 2026.
The U.S. Representative election takes place on November 3, 2026.
The mayoral primary election is scheduled for February 23, 2027.

Political Context

Opponents and some council members have questioned the use of scheduling conflicts to delay the vote. This maneuver highlights the ongoing tensions regarding control of the mayoral succession process during the leadership vacancy.

The delay shifts the timeline for establishing new city leadership ahead of the municipal elections. Residents will see candidates begin the petition process on October 19 to secure their spots on the February primary ballot.

The takeaway

The transition process impacts how the city manages its affairs during the upcoming two-year term. Voters should track the candidate filing deadlines as the race for the permanent seat formally begins this month.

What happens next

The city council vote is confirmed for October 26, 2026, followed by the mayoral primary election on February 23, 2027, and the potential runoff election on April 6, 2027.