Unions Coalescing Around Giannoulias Mayoral Run
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias attends an event at Navy Pier in March. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
As Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias appears to be nearing an entrance in the 2027 Chicago mayoral race, organized labor may be organizing itself right into Giannoulias’ camp.
Labor has accounted for around $5.7 million in contributions to Giannoulias this year, and unions are making no secret of the fact they hope it is taken as a signal to the Secretary of State they want him in the mayoral race.
Marc Poulos, Executive Director of the Local 150 Operating Engineers, which contributed $1 million to Giannoulias in February, says the union is making no secret of its support.
“[We’re] hoping he jumps into the mayoral race. He’s done a hell of a job as Secretary of State,” Poulos said. “150 fueled the Secretary of State campaign in hopes it showed our commitment to him in a mayoral race.”
Local 150’s D.C.-based International headquarters gave Giannoulias an additional million dollars in March. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, based in Chicago, also ponied up a $1 million check in February.
A Local 150-affiliated Independent Expenditure committee, “Fight Back for a Better Tomorrow,” has also spent around $500,000 on digital ads supporting Giannoulias this year.
Giannoulias has received campaign cash this year from a variety of unions, ranging form the Illinois Education Association to numerous Teamsters locals, multiple Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) accounts, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Ironworkers, Food & Commercial Workers, and even a Stagehands union.
“He’s the labor candidate for mayor, no doubt about it,” said one longtime Democratic strategist, who asked not to be named. “They are going to make it rain for Alexi in this race.”
Even though the contributions to Giannoulias are directed to his run for Secretary of State in November, where he faces token Republican opposition, all of the funds can be rerouted to a mayoral campaign.
The field for Chicago Mayor continues to grow rapidly, as State Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) have already thrown their hats in the ring, all eyes are pointing to when Giannoulias pulls the trigger on a race, especially considering he’s on the ballot in November, too.
When we asked him in April, Giannoulias wasn’t interested in speaking in detail about his plans, but did confirm he was considering a run for mayor.
“I love my job. I love being Secretary of State,” he said. “I also care deeply about the city and I think things should be going better in the city. So, I’m taking a look and happy to have people that are supportive.”
Giannoulias told Capitol News Illinois in May that he would be having “conversations” about the race after the spring legislative session, which ended a month ago.
Numerous sources said Giannoulias would likely enter the race sometime before petition circulation opens at the end of July, but there is no set date.
Neither Giannoulias or a spokesman returned messages from The Illinoize Tuesday.
Giannoulias is a prolific fundraiser anyway. He raised $12 million in the first quarter of the year and ended March with $18.3 million on hand.
He has disclosed raising $1.2 million in large contributions in the second quarter, almost all of which was disclosed this week. Full second quarter fundraising numbers won’t be released until the middle of July.
