Chicago Mayor winner?
$38.3K
FEB 24, 2027
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current rolePublic administrator
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age73 years old (Jun 10, 1953)
GenderMale
LocationIllinois
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BackgroundPublic administrator
EducationMoraine Valley Community College (attended)
Notable personal detailsPaul Gust Vallas is an American public administrator and education leader who served as the first Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Schools from 1995 to 2001. He later led large urban school systems including Philadelphia and New Orleans’ Recovery School District, and served as Chicago’s budget director. Vallas has been a candidate in multiple Illinois and Chicago elections, including campaigns for mayor of Chicago.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Paul Vallas opposes broad new city tax increases and supports capping individual property-tax growth while seeking to balance the budget by repurposing TIF surpluses, cutting waste, and expanding revenue from legalized gambling and other non-tax sources. He has said he would not support a city income tax and favors internal budget reforms rather than raising property or business taxes.
Healthcare
Supports restoring and funding retiree health benefits for city employees and requiring nondiscrimination and coverage for transgender-related care across city agencies and contractors. Advocates using city budget priorities to extend employee health benefits and has signaled support for expanding access to health coverage at the municipal level.
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Immigration & Border
Supports Chicago’s Welcoming City policy and continuation of services to immigrants and students regardless of status, while stating the city should cooperate with federal authorities in cases involving violent criminals. Has called for state action to manage migrant arrivals and suggested using state resources (including National Guard bases) to shelter or process migrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate says he personally opposes abortion for religious reasons but publicly supports and will protect women’s reproductive rights and access to abortion in Chicago, describing the city as a reproductive "safe haven."
Climate & Energy
Paul Vallas supports reestablishing a City Department of Environment, pursuing stormwater and urban-tree management and accelerating transitions to renewable energy through conservation and green infrastructure measures while enforcing pollution rules. His proposals emphasize moderate climate investments, infrastructure adaptation, waste reduction and environmental-justice standards rather than radical fossil-fuel phaseouts or Green New Deal–style federal commitments.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded gun-control measures including stronger background checks and waiting periods, while prioritizing aggressive prosecution and sentencing for gun law violators; favors restoring proactive, community-based policing and does not support defunding the police.
News
Paul Vallas is mentioned in coverage comparing Mississippi’s recent gains in student literacy with ongoing struggles in Chicago’s South Side schools. The piece argues Chicago’s schools continue to underperform despite having more resources, and points to Project H.O.O.D.’s push to bring similar literacy-focused reforms to Chicago.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising