As Illinois voters prepare for the midterm elections on November 3, a series of candidates are placed under the spotlight, competing for key political offices that could shape the state’s future.
Among those drawing attention is current Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. First elected in 2022, Giannoulias is facing his first re-election campaign. In August, he also announced his intention to run for mayor of Chicago in 2027.
Alexi Giannoulias is no stranger to public scrutiny. In 2010, Broadway Bank–the Chicago bank founded and owned by his family–collapsed after years of financial problems. Giannoulias worked as senior loan officer and vice president until 2005. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sued the bank, seeking to recover $104 million in losses tied to questionable loans NBC Chicago reported. Giannoulias was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Throughout his time as an Illinois government official, Giannoulias’ background and access to political resources have drawn public attention. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, when running for Secretary of State in 2022, Giannoulias accepted $24,000 from former Broadway Bank officials, $6,000 from each of his two brothers, $6,000 from former Broadway Bank board members Steven Dry and Sean Conlon and an additional $6,000 from Demetris Giannoulias’ wife and Dry’s wife. For his second campaign, Giannoulias has already amassed over $22.2 million, mostly coming from unions.
His opponent, Republican nominee Diane Harris, comments on the issue of Giannoulias’ fundraising. She claims that donations help get her message to reach the public, but at the end of the day, “the voters will weigh in just as much as the cash.”
Cognizant of Giannoulias’ background, Harris addresses that she knew she was “running against a heavily oiled machine.”
Illinois law does not prohibit Giannoulias’ plans to pursue two different political offices. There is no rule to say that while running for re-election to a current position, candidates cannot also run for mayor of a city.
Most recently, potential mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan filed a lawsuit addressing this issue. According to the lawsuit, Quinlan is attempting to block Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas from running for mayor. Giannoulias and Quigley have launched a formal campaign while Pappas has only told reporters she plans to run for office in the following year.
“I totally agree with the lawsuit. [it’s] preaching my message,” Harris said.
Although it’s yet to go anywhere, this lawsuit has raised questions about the fairness of Illinois elections. For the time being, it rests on moral obligation over legislative rule. It was subsequently dismissed.
“You have to be committed to the seat your name is on the ballot for,” said Harris. “I feel that if my opponent is running for mayor, then he obviously is not committed to the seat of Secretary of State. I think that the voters deserve better than that.”
Additionally, Giannoulias’ decision to run for both offices creates another financial advantage: campaign funds can be transferred between his two campaigns. Money left over from his Secretary of State race can be redirected toward his mayoral bid, allowing contributions raised under one campaign to ultimately support the other. While legal, the arrangement effectively gives Giannoulias greater flexibility in how he uses the money he raises, blurring the financial line between his two political campaigns.
On Oct. 4, Alexi Giannoulias opened two field offices on Chicago’s South and West Sides, designed to serve not only as campaign headquarters but also as community hubs. The openings marked an early step in his bid for mayor, with Giannoulias emphasizing direct community engagement over traditional television advertising. Still, he has not officially entered the mayoral race: candidates cannot submit their petitions to appear on the ballot until late October.
Harris commented, saying, “If someone is giving you and valuing you and trusting you with their vote to a specific seat, that’s where they expect you to sit.”
Ackim Mpofu, the Assistant Dean of Students and AP Government teacher, addressed the event, saying that “If it’s legal constitutionally, then it is ok to do it. Some people see themselves in different positions of power.”
Mpofu then related it to Lake Forest Academy, “We allow people to run for president and class representative. You can choose to run for either one because students see themselves being able to serve the community either way.”
While candidates may have the ability to pursue multiple positions, ultimately voters will decide which one has earned their support. If a mayoral candidate in February does not earn over 50% of the votes, a runoff election occurs; this is between the top two candidates. The possibility of a runoff adds yet another layer to the competitive election, leaving voters to consider who they want to represent Chicago and determine if the candidate can give the position the commitment it requires.
After numerous attempts, the office of Alexi Giannoulias and current mayor Brandon Johnson did not respond with a quote.