The Chicago Growth Project supports candidates who share our vision of Chicago as a world-class city with immense potential. We are committed to electing forward-thinking urbanist leaders who realize the best way through our city’s toughest issues is growth and are willing to commit to the reforms needed to encourage that growth.


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Not sure which district(s) you're in? Use our Address Lookup tool to find endorsed candidates on your ballot!

 

Current Endorsements

Kiana Belcher
Candidate for Cook Country Commissioner (District 5)

Kiana was born & raised in the Southland and is a board trustee of the village of Dolton. She has a vision of prosperity for the district and is committed to supporting policies aimed at:

  • Economic Growth - fighting for opportunities that create jobs and wealth
  • Affordability - increasing density to keep property taxes manageable
  • Quality Healthcare - expanding access to healthcare services, including mental health services

Nicholas Cade
Candidate for Cook Country Commissioner (District 8)

Nicholas has spent his career solving problems—as a public school teacher, an attorney, a Navy servicemember, a local school council representative, and now in the private sector working on the frontlines of the fight against climate change. He's a pragmatic progressive focused on:

  • Economic Opportunity & Affordability - expanding housing, securing property tax relief, and facilitating access to jobs that pay a living wage
  • Development & Growth - investing in resilient infrastructure, cutting red tape, creating conditions to attract and grow new businesses, and preparing the County for a changing climate
  • Government Efficiency & Transparency - earning back public trust by making prudent, transparent decisions rooted in the best interests of residents

Jessica Vásquez
Candidate for Cook Country Commissioner (District 8)

Jessica has dedicated her career to advancing equity through public service and grassroots advocacy. Born and raised in Chicago's northwest side, she brings more than 13 years of experience in community nonprofits and local government to her role as Commissioner of Cook County's 8th District. Jessica will lead on:

  • Affordability - building housing that working-class families can afford and supporting homeowners with access to property tax relief, while pushing for property tax reform
  • Healthy Communities - protecting and expanding healthcare access in the 8th district and across Cook County
  • Vibrancy - supporting access to county resources for our small businesses, arts, and culture to ensure thriving commercial corridors

Drake Warren
Candidate for Cook Country Commissioner (District 10)

Drake is an engineer at a locally-headquartered consulting firm and Chicago Growth Project board member. He’s a natural problem solver, seeing the potential Cook County can develop by focusing on:

  • Affordability - building more housing so families can afford to stay
  • Transparency - passing a fair budget and fostering an open-door policy
  • Walkability - creating safe, convenient neighborhoods where Chicagoans of all ages can thrive

Isaiah White
Candidate for Cook Country Commissioner (District 12)

Isaiah is a Chicago Public Schools teacher and pro-reform candidate who believes Cook County should work for the people—not the other way around. He’s running to bring change to a county government that has been stagnant for too long, with specific focus on:

  • Fiscal Transparency - reforming mismanaged programs and agencies while bringing corruption to light
  • Safer Neighborhoods - championing data-proven solutions to prevent crime
  • Pro-growth Policies - making a dignified life attainable and affordable for everyone in Cook County

Nick Uniejewski
Candidate for Illinois State Senator (District 6)

Nick is a Northside community organizer and pragmatic progressive who founded the Chicago Salon Club and helped pass Illinois’ most progressive abortion access legislation. He’s focused on:

  • Affordability - building more housing and investing in reliable transit
  • Reform - rethinking the way we approach healthcare, voting, and the climate
  • Inclusion - safeguarding reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights so Illinois can better serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity for all


Shantel Franklin
Candidate for Illinois State Representative (District 8)

Shantel Franklin brings nearly a decade of legislative experience, including six years in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, where she helped pass legislation to protect consumers, defend workers, and secure funding to hold Washington accountable. A licensed realtor and landlord, she combines policy expertise with hands-on experience to deliver real results. She is running for State Representative to help build a Chicago that thrives for everyone. Her priorities include:

  • Equitable Housing & Neighborhood Investment - expanding access, affordability, and revitalization to create vibrant, thriving communities
  • Education & Workforce Development - strengthening schools and programs that prepare residents for opportunity and long-term growth
  • Smart Infrastructure & Community Well-Being - improving public transit, streets, and access to healthcare and supportive services for all neighborhoods


Mac LeBuhn
Candidate for Illinois State Representative (District 12)

Mac is a dedicated public servant, teacher, and attorney. He’s seen how policy impacts families and communities and decided it’s time to protect and grow our community at the state level by focusing on:

  • Affordability - building more housing so families can afford to live here
  • Education - prioritizing teachers, cutting bloated administrative costs
  • Good Government - strengthening ethics rules, expanding inspector general authority, and promoting competitive elections


James O'Brien
Candidate for Illinois State Representative (District 13)

James has spent his entire career in public service working on initiatives such as historic statewide education funding reform, Illinois' climate goals, and a multitude of public budgets. He earned a JD from Chicago-Kent and MS in Energy Policy & Climate from Johns Hopkins to be the best advocate possible. Now, James plans to use his track record of delivering results to bring change to Illinois by:

  • Building More Housing - making it as easy as possible to build affordable housing because too many Chicagoans can't afford to live here
  • Investing in Education - supporting our future while also mitigating property taxes that are driving up rental and home ownership costs
  • Lowering Utility Bills - building more clean energy and promoting reasonable regulations on data centers to bring down energy bills

Daniel Tobón
Candidate for 35th Ward Alderman

Daniel was born in Colombia, raised in Chicago, served in the military, and is currently CEO of a pharmaceutical cannabis company. He’s a progressive urbanist committed to:

  • Growth - increasing the tax base and decreasing the cost of housing
  • Safety - improving crime prevention efforts, adopt best practices
  • Inclusion - building a better 35th Ward that works for everyone, not just entrenched special interests