Mendoza won't seek reelection, fueling 2027 Chicago mayoral buzz
Why it matters: The announcement opens up a crucial statewide office that Democrats have held since 2016 and potentially kick-starts the 2027 mayoral race.
Between the lines: Sizing up a mayoral run this early reveals how some Democrats believe the current mayor is vulnerable. Mayor Brandon Johnson has seen low approval ratings and represents a much more progressive wing of the party, aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union.
Mendoza has been quick to criticize the mayor on social media, from his fiscal strategies to public safety.
The move also suggests the mayoral race may attract big-name candidates earlier than ever. The past two mayoral elections had 23 candidates (14 in 2019 and 9 in 2023), which means name recognition is key.
Reality check: Mendoza could have run for reelection and still run for mayor in 2027, but her timing aligns with the powerful Cook County Democratic Party's upcoming meetings this week to endorse candidates running in 2026.
The late decision by Mendoza could mean a wild few days as new candidates emerge to jockey for the statewide comptroller's office.
Flashback: Mendoza has run for mayor before. She campaigned in 2019 but failed to finish in the top two for the runoff, which Lori Lightfoot won.
In that race, Mendoza was hampered by her connections to then-Ald. Ed Burke, to whom she had a close relationship. Burke was indicted for corruption in the midst of that campaign.
State of play: Mendoza has an impressive track record overall, though, winning elections both state and citywide. She spent a decade in the statehouse representing parts of Chicago and was the first woman to be elected city clerk.
Once elected Illinois comptroller in 2016, Mendoza was a fierce opponent of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. She used her office to publicize the governor's fiscal struggles, routinely pointing to unpaid state bills during his tenure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
4 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
U.S. and European Union announce a trade framework
EDINBURGH, Scotland — The United States and the European Union reached a tariff deal Sunday after a brief meeting between President Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. A White House deadline was days away from imposing punishing import taxes on the 27-member EU, which is America's leading global trading partner. 'It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it's going to be great for both parties,' Trump said. The make-or-break talks were meant to head off trade penalties — and promised retaliation from Europe — that could have sent shock waves through economies around the globe. Trump and Von der Leyen held private talks at one of Trump's golf courses in Scotland, then emerged a short time later saying they had reached an 'across the board' agreement. In remarks before the session, Trump pledged to change what he characterized as 'a very one-sided transaction, very unfair to the United States.' 'I think the main sticking point is fairness,' he said while also noting, 'We've had a hard time with trade with Europe, a very hard time.' Von der Leyen had said the U.S. and EU combined have the world's largest trade volume, encompassing hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars. Trump said the stakes involved meant a deal should be pursued. 'We should give it a shot.' Von der Leyen said Trump was 'known as a tough negotiator and deal maker,' which prompted the president to interject, 'But fair.' She said that, if the agreement is successful, 'I think it would be the biggest deal each of us has ever struck.' For months, Trump has threatened most of the world with large tariffs in hopes of shrinking major U.S. trade deficits with many key trading partners. More recently, he had hinted that any deal with the EU would have to 'buy down' the currently scheduled export tax rate of 30%. The Republican president pointed to a recent U.S. agreement with Japan that set tariff rates for many goods at 15% and suggested the EU could agree to something similar. Asked whether he would be willing to accept tariff rates lower than that, Trump said, 'No.' As for the threat of retaliation from the Europeans, he said: 'They'll do what they have to do.' Their meeting came after Trump played golfed for the second straight day at his Turnberry course. The president's five-day visit to Scotland is built around golf and promoting properties bearing his name. A small group of demonstrators at the course waved American flags and raised a sign criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who plans his own Turnberry meeting with Trump on Monday. Other voices could be heard cheering and chanting, 'Trump! Trump!' as he played nearby. On Tuesday, Trump will be in Aberdeen, in northeastern Scotland, where his family business has another golf course and is opening a third next month. The president and his sons plan to help cut the ribbon on the new course. Joining Von der Leyen were Maros Sefcovic, the EU's chief trade negotiator; Bjorn Seibert, the head of Von der Leyen's Cabinet; Sabine Weyand, the commission's directorate-general for trade; and Tomas Baert, head of trade and agriculture at the EU's delegation to the U.S. The deadline for the Trump administration to begin imposing tariffs has shifted in recent weeks but was now firm, the administration said. 'No extensions, no more grace periods. Aug. 1, the tariffs are set, they'll go into place. Customs will start collecting the money and off we go,' U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told 'Fox News Sunday.' He added, however, that even after that, 'people can still talk to President Trump. I mean, he's always willing to listen.' Without an agreement, the EU said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, including such diverse items as beef, auto parts, beer and Boeing airplanes. If Trump eventually made good on his threat of tariffs against Europe, it could mean that items including French cheese, Italian leather goods, German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals would be more expensive in the United States. The U.S. and Britain, meanwhile, announced a trade framework in May and a larger agreement last month during the Group of 7 meeting in Canada. Trump says that deal is concluded and that he and Starmer will discuss other matters, though the White House has suggested it still needs some polishing. Weissert writes for the Associated Press.
Axios
4 minutes ago
- Axios
Some Republicans aren't backing down from Epstein transparency push
Amid bipartisan calls for transparency and a cascade of Epstein-related headlines, some GOP lawmakers are holding the line — while others are urging more sunlight from the Trump administration. The big picture: The case of the disgraced financier, who died in 2019, has taken on new life under the second Trump administration, creating splinters in the president's base and dominating conversations on Capitol Hill. While some Republicans are falling in line with President Trump and making calls to move on, others are defying leadership and joining in with Democrats by continuing to criticize the administration's handling of the case. Driving the news: Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who are leading a bipartisan charge to force a House vote on releasing files related to Epstein, were optimistic on Sunday's political talk shows that their measure would succeed. "It will pass," Khanna said on NBC's "Meet the Press." Massie warned on ABC's "This Week" that if a vote doesn't come to the floor, the GOP could feel political punishment in 2026, cautioning voters could "check out" because "Republicans didn't keep their promise." And with the House breaking for its weeks-long recess, Massie predicts the pressure will only build: "I don't think it's going to dissipate like the speaker hopes that it will." Yes, but: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argued in a Sunday interview with NBC's Kristen Welker that the lawmakers' discharge petition is "not the right approach," contending it doesn't build in "adequate protections" for victims. "House Republicans insist upon the release of all credible evidence and information related to Epstein in any way, but we are also insisting upon the protection of innocent victims," he said. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), echoed Johnson on "Meet the Press," saying he's "on board" to "release as much as you can, protecting victims the best you can." The other side: Massie, responding to the DOJ's conclusion that releasing further materials could hurt victims, told Welker, "That's a straw man." He continued, "Ro and I carefully crafted this legislation so that the victims' names will be redacted and that no child pornography will be released, so they're hiding behind that." Catch up quick: Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to "produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval" earlier this month. But a federal judge on Wednesday struck down the administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts in connection with an investigation into Epstein, writing that the court's "hands were tied." And while Trump has said Bondi should release"credible" information, he's repeatedly bashed what he has dubbed the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax" and blamed his political rivals for "making up" the files. Zoom out: While some Republicans and MAGA-friendly figures have turned up the heat on the administration, other Trump allies have echoed the president's targeting of his predecessors. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) sparred with CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday over Epstein's controversial plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida, arguing the agreement was struck under the Obama administration.
Miami Herald
23 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Fury over Epstein files follows Congress home as summer break begins
WASHINGTON - As members of the U.S. House traveled back to Capitol Hill for their final work week ahead of the summer break, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, issued a warning. Writing on social media, Greene warned that the MAGA base is angry that Republicans were breaking their promise to release files associated with the sex trafficking investigation of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein. After years of being told the documents contained bombshells that would bring down well-connected Democrats, they wanted results. "The base will turn and there's no going back," she continued. "Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else." But President Donald Trump sent Republican leaders a very different message, urging them to stand down on compelling the release of Epstein files. He said anything to the contrary was playing into Democrats' hands and would risk his wrath. Caught in the middle, House Speaker Mike Johnson mostly chose inaction and even sent members back home a day early. The issue is unlikely to die down with a base that remains dissatisfied and an ongoing bipartisan effort to force a vote on the House floor. House leaders shut down that effort by adjourning a key legislative committee, meaning very little legislative business was accomplished in the final days before the recess. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter is among the many GOP members who agree with Trump that there is no need to vote now on releasing Epstein documents while the White House, at Trump's direction, is working to make some files public. Carter lamented that serious government spending decisions await lawmakers when they return in September partially because votes on appropriations bills were postponed during the turmoil. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get them done before the August break, but it just means we're going to have work that much harder in September," Carter, R-St. Simons Island, said. U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk said he understands the public interest in the Epstein files but that has to be measured against needs to protect the privacy of young victims and people whose names might be in the documents but who may not be accused of wrongdoing. "My question is: What is it that you want released?" the Cassville Republican said. "And do you know it's there? We keep talking about an Epstein list: What is that list?" No one reflects the tightrope Republican members must walk more than freshman lawmaker Brian Jack, who served as Trump's political director during his first term and who remains close with him. Jack, R-Peachtree City, was among three Republicans who voted with Democrats to subpoena the Department of Justice's Epstein-related documents. Those subpoenas will nowbe issued. The week prior, Jack voted to block a separate Democrat-led measure that would have forced a vote on the House floor on releasing the Epstein files. He has declined to speak publicly about the votes. While Republicans canceled committee meetings to avoid more tough votes on Epstein, Democrats saw an opportunity to take advantage of an issue that could have long-term impact. Congressman Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, had a viral moment when he posted video on social media playing Jason Isbell's "Dreamsicle" on his guitar with the lyrics changed to highlight the Epstein controversy. He said it proves Republicans will do anything Trump wants them to do, even if it means shutting down the House early. But Johnson said that inaction isn't all bad. "He's doing nothing but increasing prices for the people of this country while taking away their rights at the same time," Johnson said. "So, to stop this Congress from passing additional legislation is a good thing." U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath had a slightly different take. She said Democrats were right to push for the release of Epstein documents, but she warned that the Epstein controversy risks becoming a distraction from kitchen-table issues, such as the cost of housing and health care. "It's all important, yes, but let's not take our eyes off of what's most important to the American people every single day," the Marietta Democrat said. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
