Chicago mayoral candidates try to kick opponents off ballot

Some of the biggest names in the race for mayor must now fight to get their names on the February 26th ballot.

Their rivals claim Susana Mendoza, Bill Daley and Garry McCarthy, among others, don't qualify.

Ja'mal Green is angry at multi-millionaire businessman Willie Wilson. They're both running for mayor of Chicago, but operatives hired by Wilson are now trying to kick Green off the February ballot. He saw possible racism in Wilson’s effort to eliminate several African American rivals.

“That's not Democracy. That's not a right. And the people I know, know that this rigged and this is not what people support,” Green said.

Political newcomer Green has lots of company. Also facing challenges that could keep them off the ballot are Bill Daley, Dorothy Brown, Garry McCarthy, Lori Lightfoot, La Shawn Ford, Neal Sales-Griffin and Susana Mendoza, the frontrunner in some voter opinion surveys. Her campaign chair remained confident.

“I don't think people really care how many signatures you have, unless you don't have enough. And we have enough,” said Kathy Byrne. “They know that if she's on that ballot, she will win.”

With no challenges filed against them, several candidates will apparently be on the mayoral ballot in the first round of voting: Toni Preckwinkle, Paul Vallas, Gery Chico, Amara Enyia, Willie Wilson, Bob Fioretti and Jerry Joyce.

The fight over who's on and who's off the ballot will likely drag on will into January, meaning the ballot may not be finalized until just before early voting begins on January 17th.