By not appearing before slatemakers, Mendoza avoids putting county Democrats in the position of asking them to endorse her for a reelection bid that she may not make. Mendoza during her speech said she was making her announcement to give others time to pitch themselves for the job to Democrats and voters statewide.<\/p>\n
With Mendoza not running for reelection, it not only sparks speculation about her running in the Chicago mayoral race but also creates a statewide office opening in the already competitive 2026 election<\/a>.<\/p>\n U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin\u2019s announcement earlier this year<\/a> that he would retire at the end of his term launched a scramble among candidates looking to move up. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg are running to succeed Durbin, meaning their congressional seats open next year. Additionally, the 9th Congressional District seat is also open, as U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who has been in Congress since 1999, has announced her retirement<\/a> at the end of her term.<\/p>\n Mendoza, a former state representative and Chicago city clerk, ran for mayor in 2019. But she finished fifth in the first round of voting with 9% and missed the runoff election, which featured Lori Lightfoot against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Lightfoot ultimately won that election but lost reelection in 2023 in a race that saw Johnson ascend to the top spot at City Hall.<\/p>\n Mendoza won the comptroller\u2019s office in a 2016 special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. Mendoza used the position to sharply criticize one-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner\u2019s fiscal policies, including a dispute Rauner had with then-House Speaker Michael Madigan that led to the state going two years without adopting a budget.<\/p>\n As comptroller and in working with Pritzker\u2019s administration, Mendoza promptly cleared up a multibillion-dollar backlog of bills left by Rauner\u2019s administration. She also has pushed to increase the state\u2019s \u201crainy day\u201d fund.<\/p>\n![\"Illinois](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ctc-l-mendoza-announce-03.jpg\")
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza greets people attending a news conference at Los Comales restaurant in Little Village, July 16, 2025, after announcing that she would not run for re-election in 2026 as the state\u2019s top fiscal officer. Her announcement opens the door for her to challenge Brandon Johnson in what would be her second bid for Chicago mayor. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n