The race to decide who will be the next mayor of Evanston is heating up, and now the first incumbent candidate has entered the fray.
Stephanie Mendoza, 33, the city’s two-term city clerk, announced Aug. 5 her bid to run in next year’s special mayoral election, vying to replace Mayor Daniel Biss, who is likely headed to Washington come January. He is running as a Democrat in the Nov. 3 election in the heavily blue Illinois 9th Congressional District race.
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“I am running for mayor because I believe in the power of Evanston,” Mendoza wrote in her candidacy announcement.
“This community changed the course of my life. The people of Evanston invested in me, believed in my potential, and opened doors that made my future possible. I want to ensure every family has those same opportunities.”
Mendoza was first elected to the role of city clerk in 2021, having been the only name to appear on the February primary ballot alongside several write-ins. She was re-elected to the position in 2025.
Making history as the first Latina elected official following her initial city clerk win, Mendoza would also become the first Latina mayor in Evanston if elected by voters in April 2027.
Mayor Daniel Biss is set to resign from his seat on Oct. 18, in time to trigger a special election for the remainder of his term ending in 2029. An acting mayor will be selected among the current nine aldermen during the interim period.
A primary election for the race will be held on Feb. 23 if more than two candidates qualify to be placed on the ballot.
In her current role, Mendoza is tasked with overseeing a range of municipal duties, most notably serving as Evanston’s chief record keeper. Her office maintains city code functions and publishes ordinances and resolutions retained as official records in the city’s municipal library, according to the city clerk’s office.
The city clerk also acts as the “custodian of the City seal” and is responsible for documenting all City Council meetings and responding to all public record requests.
Mendoza wrote in her campaign announcement that she has been a trailblazer in her efforts to “modernize City Hall” through her administrative role, implementing a “citywide records management policy, improving transparency and public access to government, restoring Vital Records services to the City of Evanston, and supporting initiatives that improve government operations.”
“It’s time for the next generation of leaders to take up the mantle in Evanston,” Mendoza wrote.
“As Mayor, I will be laser focused on making Evanston a place where everyone can afford to live and afford to stay.”
The struggle to make Evanston’s housing affordable is not a new issue.
For decades, city leaders have wrestled with how to expand access to housing as prices have climbed, and ways to protect long-standing residents of the city from displacement with the preservation of affordable units.
About 40% of Evanston residents pay more than a third of their yearly income on housing, according to the city’s website.
And rising housing prices have further contributed to increased economic and racial segregation, prompting officials to implement the new milestone Housing4All initiative, which is slated to guide policy for the next decade.
If elected as Evanston’s next leader, Mendoza said she will “demand high quality City services for everyone – no matter the ward,” and ensure the city’s budget “reflects our values” while being “fiscally responsible.”
Mendoza told Pioneer Press over the phone Tuesday that since announcing her candidacy Aug. 5, 47 people have signed up to volunteer for her campaign, including people interested in helping collect petition signatures.
Under Illinois law, all mayoral candidates must collect a minimum of 946 signatures and a maximum of 1,513 signatures from local registered voters in order to qualify for the ballot.
All ballots must be filed with the city between Oct. 19 – 26. The signature collection window began July 28.
The city clerk is typically responsible for administering the municipal election process, but Mendoza will need to recuse herself from those responsibilities given the conflict of interest.
Election to the mayor’s job would also come with a significant pay cut for Mendoza.
In her current role as the only elected official in a full-time position, she earns an annual salary of $81,000, including yearly cost of living adjustments beginning in May 2026.
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Per city code, the mayor of Evanston receives a yearly salary of about $25,000, begging the question of who can afford to pursue the job with so little compensation and such weighty responsibilities.
Mendoza graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University Chicago and currently resides in the 2nd ward with her husband and three children.
“As a young mother, I came to Evanston determined to build a better future for my family,” Mendoza wrote on her campaign website.
“We need leadership that understands every part of Evanston – from our neighborhoods and nonprofit community to our schools, library, local businesses, and City government.”
Mendoza told Pioneer Press Tuesday, Aug. 11 that her campaign staff are currently “in the process” of formally establishing a campaign committee, and the D-1 State of Organization form will be filed within the day.
Organizers also confirmed Mendoza has “received pledges of support from people who are excited about the campaign,” but did not specify any dollar amounts.
She is the fifth candidate to throw her name in the ring to be the city’s next leader, following former Evanston alderwoman Ann Rainey; Jade Carpenter, an attorney and political newcomer who was the first to enter the race; Jeff Boarini, who previously ran against incumbent Biss in 2025 and Elliot Oats, a local activist.
The next mayor will be officially sworn in at the first City Council meeting following the certification of election results. This would likely fall in early May 2027, per the city’s calendar.