With most candidate petitions in, mayoral campaigns consider ballot challenges

With most candidate petitions in, mayoral campaigns consider ballot challenges
Mayoral hopeful Carol Moseley Braun spoke to reporters on Monday morning in downtown Chicago. WBEZ/Sam Hudzik
With most candidate petitions in, mayoral campaigns consider ballot challenges
Mayoral hopeful Carol Moseley Braun spoke to reporters on Monday morning in downtown Chicago. WBEZ/Sam Hudzik

With most candidate petitions in, mayoral campaigns consider ballot challenges

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

More than a half-dozen candidates for Chicago mayor have filed their paperwork with the board of elections, and some are already looking for ways to kick each other off the ballot.

U.S Rep. Danny Davis and City Clerk Miguel del Valle were quick to acknowledge their campaigns will look for mistakes in their rivals’ petitions.

“We always take a cursory look,” Davis said. “You know, everybody kind of [does] that.”

Del Valle said, “That’s a standard operating procedure.”

Another candidate for mayor, former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun was less direct when asked if she would challenge her rivals’ petitions.

“We’re going to do everything we can to get the message to the people of Chicago that we’re serious, and we’re up for this…campaign,” Moseley Braun said.

Candidates for mayor must collect 12,500 signatures from registered voters, but most submit more in order to survive objections.

All the major candidates turned in their signatures yesterday except for state Senator James Meeks. His spokesman says they’ll be filed before next Monday’s deadline.