Campaign Update
To our 32nd ward community – I want to personally say thank you for the incredible support that you have given this campaign over the last 4 weeks. After internal discussions, we have decided to sunset the campaign today, and not pursue a write-in campaign against the incumbent. Though we accomplished all of the things necessary to get on the ballot, our signatures were successfully challenged by the incumbent at the Board of Elections, due to an administrative error on page numbering.
We set out to do something incredibly ambitious – to get enough signatures to get on the ballot for the 2024 Primaries, understand the needs of our neighbors at a deeper level, and force those currently in power to recognize that in order for them to stay in-seat, they need to listen to the needs and demands of their constituents. Because of this incredible community, we were able to do just that:
We out-organized those currently in power and did in 15 days what they couldn’t over 3 months – get not just the 922 signatures needed to get on the ballot, but more than 2,000 signatures from our neighbors.
We heard from our neighbors and continued to build a joint vision for a more inclusive ward – one that supports the needs of each of us – whether that’s thinking differently about public safety than the same old way that we’ve had for the last 30 years, or demanding greater support for the elderly in our community whose housing costs have risen to a point of displacement, or ensuring we have public mental health centers for our residents and housing resources for those that are houseless, or having electeds that truly listens to us and operate through a model of co-governance.
We pushed our current elected to participate in a write-in ballot for the Primary in March because he wasn’t able to get enough signatures to get on the ballot (nor the individual he endorsed).
We pressured, alongside leading groups in the ward, our current elected to change his votes to be in-line with the people he represents – most recently shifting his vote to vote against the FOP arbitration vote in City Council, and voting against removing the status of Chicago as a sanctuary city.
We proved that People power is strong, and that if we organize, we’ll continue to build strength for a more inclusive and representative 32nd ward – one that works to support the needs of all of its residents. And while we were not able to make the ballot this time, because of our city’s high barrier to access to making the ballot through a simple technicality, we look forward to continuing to push for more just and inclusive leadership in our Ward.
I want to say thank you to each of you that engaged with the campaign – whether just sending positive thoughts from afar, canvassing, having conversations with your neighbors, opening your door to our team – it’s given me such hope and excitement for the kind of ward and community that we’ll continue to grow.
