Chicago Alderman Faces Bid to Drop Challenger From Feb. 23 Ballot
Ald. Gilbert Villegas alleges 300 faulty signatures in the petition filed by Luis Gomez Jr., who seeks to unseat the incumbent in the 36th Ward.
By Wyatt Cooper ·
The 36th Ward aldermanic race is already in dispute before the first vote is cast. Incumbent Ald. Gilbert Villegas is challenging the validity of the only opposing candidate’s nominating petitions.
Luis Gomez Jr. filed petitions to run against Villegas in the February 2027 election. He submitted approximately 740 signatures. The Chicago Board of Elections requires 473 valid signatures by October 26 to secure a spot on the ballot.
Villegas’ legal team has identified about 300 defective signatures in Gomez’ filing. Many of the questioned entries belong to voters who do not reside in the 36th Ward. The alderman said his attorneys are confident the board will remove Gomez from the race.
"Based on our attorney’s experience, they feel very confident that there may be a chance that he gets kicked off," Villegas said. "Everyone has a right to run, but we want to make sure that they’re doing it from the proper way."
Gomez rejected the claim that a large portion of his signatures were invalid. He described himself as a political newcomer who works in security at O’Hare Airport for the city’s Department of Aviation. He lives in the Montclare section of the ward.
"I will have my day to go fight," Gomez said. "From your lips to God’s ears, I will make it on the ballot."
Villegas has held the 36th Ward seat since 2015. The district was redrawn in 2022, expanding its borders to stretch eight miles from Montclare to West Town. He serves as chair of the council’s zoning committee and has led opposition to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget proposals. He defeated a Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidate in a 2023 runoff. The elections board will begin hearing petition challenges next week. It expects to certify the February 23 ballot by mid-December.
