For quite a while now, most folks in politics have assumed that Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Comptroller Susana Mendoza will probably run for mayor of Chicago in 2027. The incumbent Brandon Johnson is spectacularly unpopular, and a real hunger is developing in the city (again) for new leadership.

Anyway, some wags have also speculated that one or even both of the statewide officials will not run for reelection in order to gear up for a mayoral bid.

With Cook County Democratic Party candidate slating coming up in July, the rumors have intensified.

I bumped into Secretary Giannoulias last week at the Statehouse and we talked about the rumors, and then I asked him if he was running again.

“I’m running for reelection,” Giannoulias bluntly replied. He did not rule out o

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