Joe for Chicago

The Chicago Mayoral race should be about who has a real plan to move this city forward. Safety. Growth. Housing. Affordability. A city that works for the people who live here. And that’s just the beginning. Learn more about our campaign plan and how to get involved at champ.ly/y4BWQY0l.

Chicago needs to be a city where businesses want to grow, hire, and invest – not leave! More jobs, more opportunity, and a stronger economy make life better for everyone.

Everywhere I go across Chicago, the same themes come up: family, safety, opportunity, education, and a better future for the next generation. Chicago does not need more division. We need leadership that brings people together around what we all want for this city.

Affordability has to be the priority. That means building more housing, fixing the budget, holding the line on taxes, and growing the economy so people can actually get ahead in Chicago.

Housing is the biggest expense in most people’s lives. If we want Chicago to be more affordable, we have to make housing a real priority, not something that keeps getting pushed from the top of the list.

Chicago does not need to keep asking residents to pay more. We need to spend smarter, cut waste, and use taxpayer dollars responsibly.

“I want you to be my mayor.” This conversation in Garfield Park turned into a real talk about financial literacy, education, opportunity, and what people actually want for their families and their future. Chicago deserves more conversations like this.

Chicago’s next budget is coming, and it matters. It affects your taxes, fees, local businesses, and whether Chicago becomes more or less affordable. We need a different approach than broken budgets that ask residents to pay more. It starts with discipline, transparency, & real financial leadership.

The future isn’t something we can ignore. Chicago needs to lead on new industries so more people have access to opportunity, not fewer.

Chicago shouldn’t feel like it’s pushing people out. When everyday costs keep rising, it’s not just frustrating, it changes who gets to stay, build a life, and call this city home. We can choose a different path.

We have public transit. We have space. We should be building more housing right here. This is how you make a city more affordable and easier to live in.

Clean energy = lower bills. It’s better for the city, and better for your wallet.

You shouldn’t feel this squeezed just to live in Chicago.

This is happening to too many people across Chicago.

Chicago’s current budget isn’t mathing. As your next mayor, I will fix this.

More housing. More opportunity. It’s that simple.

Chicago has room to grow. Let’s use it.

This campaign is rooted in a simple belief: City government should make life better and more affordable, not harder and more expensive. That means focusing on the issues that shape everyday life in Chicago and building a city people want to stay in, invest in, and believe in. joeforchicago.com.

Everything I went through led me here. To serve other people.

Keivonte from Columbia College said it best. Students are tired of being asked to do the work and then being left out of the conversation. This campaign is different. If you’re in Chicago and want to be part of it, apply to be a Student Ambassador. www.joeforchicago.com/student-amba...

Always listening. Always learning. Inspiring to sit with a group of energetic and optimistic Chicagoans during @corybooker.com’s conversation with @wbez.org.

When decisions get hard, it comes down to putting people first. With 1 million riders every day, CTA should be safe, clean, and reliable. That’s the standard we must set.

Great conversation this week at TechNexus. Chicago’s tech and business community showed up to talk about how we grow our economy, navigate the changes coming with AI, and make the city more affordable.

Safe, clean CTA will be a top priority as your next mayor.

We can support working families and grow our economy at the same time. That’s the point.

Chicago has lost nearly 1 million people. It’s time to grow again.

Credit downgrade = a more expensive Chicago. We must balance our budget to make life in Chicago more affordable.

Experience outside politics. Change inside City Hall.

Vacant land should mean opportunity, not neglect. If we want Chicago to grow, we have to build.

Affordability isn’t political. It’s personal.

Stop wasting money. Start growing Chicago.

I ride the CTA every day, just like a million other Chicagoans. When trains aren’t safe, clean, or reliable, it impacts people’s lives in real ways. We can and must do better for the riders who depend on our transit system.

Why choose one when Chicago has the best of both?! 🍕

Grateful for everyone who showed up to our Founders Forum. Builders, founders, and Chicagoans who care deeply about growing our city the right way. This is how we build momentum, together.

Congestion pricing has worked in other cities. I’m open to testing it, not rushing it. The priority is a CTA that’s safe, clean, and on time so people can choose transit by default.

This is a crisis we can't ignore. 30% of Chicago students are chronically absent. That’s 90,000 kids not getting the education they deserve. If we want better outcomes, we have to get students back in school. Achievement starts with attendance. Period.

The Minnesota Massacres by ICE of Renee Good and Alex Pretti show how our life and liberty can be ripped away in an instant. Don’t let the government assassinate more of us: Call and email your Senators this week to demand they defund ICE and tell them to vote no on DHS funding.

Brutal cold in Chicago today ❄️
 Please stay inside as much as possible. Even 10 minutes outside without gloves or a hat can lead to frostbite in these temperatures. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Public transit has to work for the people who rely on it every day. Safe. Clean. On time. That starts with a stronger CPD presence on CTA trains and stations.

You don’t have to choose between a long-term fix and short-term safety. My administration will do both. Chicago is facing a 50-year, multi-billion dollar lead pipe replacement project. It is a task that spans generations and billions of dollars. That is the reality.

Some down time over the holidays means picking up a good book to read. And of course, reading 1, 2, 3 Chicago with the baby! Happy holidays to all.

Last week the countdown clock in our office said 431 days until Election Day. Today, that number’s already lower (428!). Every day between now and February 23, 2027, we’re building a campaign focused on transparency, accountability, and making Chicago more affordable. Let’s get this done, Chicago.

Come take a quick tour of our new campaign headquarters at @WorkboxCompany inside the historic Civic Opera Building on Wacker Drive.

Have you tested your tap water for lead? I spent today with a concerned resident talking about our water infrastructure. We helped their apartment take a step toward safer water. Use Chicago’s 311 app (link below) for a free lead test kit and stay tuned on my plan. 311.chicago.gov/s/article/Wa...

Chicago can do better than politics as usual. We need a problem solver that focuses on real people and real solutions. What do you want to see change first?👇

Ask anyone who rides CTA daily like I do: the smoke in the train cars, from cigarettes, cigars, and weed is out of control. It affects everyone, especially people with asthma, older riders, and kids.

I visited Christkindlmarket and heard from vendors who are struggling more than even during COVID due to City Hall’s policies. The line restrictions are having an extremely negative effect on sales, most down 40-50%.
 Shop local. Spread the word. Keep our city traditions alive.

I love Open Books because they do something simple and powerful: turn donated books into free literacy programs for Chicago kids. When we back reading, we’re backing Chicago’s future. 📚💛 Give: open-books.org or drop off a donation at the location nearest you.

I did a deep dive on my founder and entrepreneurial journey with David Phillips. share.transistor.fm/s/5f9079af We covered how slept on the floor and more to save money and invest in the business. This is the type of financial discipline Chicago’s city budget needs to get back on its feet.

Our campaign is fueled by coffee, community volunteers, and contributions! Get your campaign mug on our new merch page ☕️ joeforchicago.com/merch.html Let’s go, Chicago!

CPS blew millions on luxury travel. That isn’t leadership. Fiscal discipline is. As mayor, I will protect our money and resources, not waste it.

Chicago’s broken budget is about to make your life more expensive. Here’s my take.

Chicago’s best days aren’t behind us. I’m not a politician. I’m a teacher, an entrepreneur, and someone who believes in what we all know Chicago can become. joeforchicago.com

Chicago deserves leadership that hires for skill, not friendship. We’ve seen what happens when loyalty comes before competence. When I’m mayor, I’ll always choose the best person for the job based on performance and qualifications.

Chicago’s credit rating just went down again and it matters. The answer isn’t more spending or higher taxes. That only makes it harder to live here, drives people out, and buries the city deeper in debt. We need to fix the budget responsibly, not ask Chicagoans to pay for mistakes that set us back

Chicago has thousands of vacant lots, full of potential but left untouched for years. These could be homes. These could be businesses. This could be hope for a neighborhood that’s been waiting too long. It’s time for leadership that doesn’t just talk about potential but turns it into progress.

I’ll go first! Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Wicker Park is one of my favorites because Hot Doug’s Atomic pizza with award-winning beers can’t be beat! Tag or share yours below so we can support the places that make your Chicago neighborhood special 👇

The fed’s decision to cut SNAP benefits leaves families without critical resources to put food on the table. This is personal to me as I know what it’s like to rely on food stamps. I also know this is an investment in real people and families, helping them make ends meet and get ahead in life.

I’ve worked across this city — teaching, building, listening. I know we can create a Chicago that works for all of us.

Achievement starts with attendance. Right now, 30% of CPS students are chronically absent. We have to do better, for our students and their families.

More businesses means more jobs in Chicago. The head tax pushes jobs out of Chicago.

A moment that shaped how I lead? Teaching algebra to 7th and 8th graders on Chicago’s West Side. Leadership isn’t about telling people what to do—it’s about listening, understanding, and helping them bring out their best.