Evanston Mayoral Candidates Debate Transit, Climate
Five of six candidates for Evanston mayor appeared together at a first group forum focused on transportation and climate policy.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Elections
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Five of the six candidates for Evanston mayor appeared together Saturday at a roughly two-hour forum held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston, drawing a couple hundred residents. The special election follows former Mayor Daniel Biss's resignation on October 18, 2026.
Why it matters
The forum comes ahead of the spring special election to fill the remainder of Biss's term, giving residents an early look at where candidates stand on transit and climate policy. Candidates broadly agreed on several priorities that will likely shape the next administration's agenda in Evanston.
Five of six candidates attended the Saturday forum, which lasted about two hours before a couple hundred residents. Former Councilmember Ann Rainey, the 8th Ward candidate, did not attend and submitted written answers, and which candidate will advance past the February 23 primary remains undetermined.
The players
Daniel Biss
Biss served as Evanston's mayor before resigning to focus on a congressional campaign, a move that triggered the special election.
Ann Rainey
Rainey is a former Evanston city councilmember representing the 8th Ward and is among the candidates in the special mayoral race.
Evanston Transit Alliance
The Evanston Transit Alliance is a local advocacy group focused on public transit access in the city and co-hosted the forum.
Climate Action Evanston
Climate Action Evanston is a local organization advocating for climate policy in Evanston and co-hosted the candidate forum.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a major private research university in the Evanston area and a large building owner subject to the city's Healthy Buildings Ordinance.
The details
The forum was moderated by Nathaniel Al-Najjar and Gulnaz Saiyed, who posed pre-written questions from their respective groups. The Evanston Transit Alliance and Climate Action Evanston co-hosted the event at the church's main hall on Ridge Avenue. Candidates broadly agreed the city should push for greater east-west transit service, strengthen implementation of the incoming Bike Plan update, and expand energy efficiency and weatherizing programs such as the Green Homes pilot.
Timeline
October 18, 2026: Former Mayor Daniel Biss resigned to focus on his congressional campaign.
Saturday, November 14, 2026: The first group forum of mayoral candidates was held.
February 23, 2027: Scheduled primary for the special election.
April 6, 2027: Likely runoff to decide the special election.
Season Trajectory
The candidates' push to improve on the 2014 Bike Plan signals that Evanston's next mayor will inherit a stalled transportation agenda that needs faster execution. Calls for expanded weatherizing funding through the Green Homes pilot place the special election within the city's broader climate goals for existing buildings.
Residents who care about transit and climate policy will see the next mayor's priorities shape bike infrastructure, east-west bus service, and home weatherization funding. Voters should watch the February 23 primary closely, since the eventual winner will set the city's direction until the seat's term ends.
The takeaway
Evanston's transit and climate priorities are converging on implementation rather than new plans, so voters should ask candidates how they will fund and deliver existing commitments. Attending candidate forums or reviewing written responses can help residents compare concrete proposals ahead of the primary.
What happens next
The Feb. 23, 2027 special election primary will narrow the field, with a likely April 6, 2027 runoff to decide the seat.
Further reading
For background on the race, see the Evanston Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evanston RoundTable.
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Do you trust Evanston's city government to carry out approved transportation and climate projects?
