Two weeks ago, activist Ja’Mal Green accused fellow mayoral candidate Willie Wilson’s camp of trying to bribe his campaign to withdraw their objection to Wilson’s nominating petitions. Now Green and Wilson have both agreed to drop their dueling complaints over election paperwork in what amounts to an uneasy cease fire.
Of nine major candidates for mayor in the Feb. 28 election, that leaves just 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer with a pending challenge. A successful challenge was mounted to a lesser-known candidate, Johnny Logalbo, who will not appear on the ballot, officials confirmed Thursday.
Sawyer and Green both had their nominating paperwork challenged by former state Sen. Rickey Hendon, a Wilson ally.
Green and Hendon have a history dating back to the 2019 election, when Green and Wilson were both running for mayor and Hendon, a flamboyant former state senator, challenged Green’s petitions. That sparked what became a war of words on social media, which led to some tense confrontations. Upset that Green allegedly said “yo mama!” to him four years ago, Hendon vowed to challenge Green’s signatures no matter what office he runs for, whether it’s “dogcatcher or booty kisser.”
The dynamic changed, however, earlier this month after an Instagram account posted three video clips that purported to include the voice of Hendon offering money to a Green staffer if Green’s campaign dropped its legal efforts challenging the validity of Wilson’s petitions.
The video raised uncomfortable questions for the Wilson campaign, which released a statement saying it doesn’t condone bribery, and now the challenges have been dropped altogether.
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Green, for his part, celebrated with a news conference late Wednesday. He tweeted: “We will beat him on the ballot. Let the race begin!”
Green won a lottery to appear first on the ballot.
Other candidates include incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, state Rep. Kam Buckner, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, Ald. Sophia King and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas.