Congressman Mike Quigley says he will not run for mayor of Chicago in 2023
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Congressman Mike Quigley announced he will not run for Mayor of Chicago in 2023.
Quigley, a longtime member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, and co-chair of the House Ukrainian Caucus, said in an email he cannot step away from his duties on Capitol Hill to campaign right now.
Quigley, 63, recently joined a congressional delegation on a trip war-torn Ukraine to study the impact of the Russian invasion as part of his decision not to enter the race for mayor.
"The war in Ukraine is not just about territory in Eastern Europe. It is a struggle between democracy and authoritarian rule, a tension playing out across the globe. Stopping Putin's genocidal war in Ukraine will save thousands of innocent lives while sending an unequivocal message to tyrants around the world: the free world will not stand for your aggression and brutality," Quigley wrote. "On this most recent trip with my colleagues from the Intelligence Committee, it became clear our work will continue for months, if not years. After much consideration, I simply cannot walk away from my duty to safeguard democracy, fight for American values abroad, and stand up for the brave Ukrainian people in their time of maximum peril. Campaigning to serve as Mayor of Chicago would not allow me to fulfill this critical obligation."
Quigley has represented Illinois' 5th District in Congress since 2009. Before that, he served 11 years on the Cook County board.
Quigley recently formed a "Quigley For Chicago" political committee, separate from his congressional campaign committee, and paperwork filed with the state declared its intent was to support Quigley for public office.
"The great city I love faces unprecedented challenges on crime, schools, equity and fiscal matters that demand 100% full-time commitment from our mayor. At age 53, I would have relished the opportunity to get Chicago back on track. If I'm being completely honest, at 63, I don't think my family and I can make this kind of commitment," Quigley said.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has yet to formally announce she will run for re-election, responded to Quigley's decision not to run by praising him as a "consistent dedicated advocate for his constituents and the residents of Chicago."
"As we face these challenging times overseas, I respect Rep. Quigley's leadership in trying to end the war in Ukraine and his efforts to safeguard democracies across the world. I look forward to continuing to work with him and his staff to ensure that Chicago gets its fair share of federal dollars and that we continue to lift up the needs of our Chicago communities in Washington, D.C.," Lightfoot said in a statement.
The only candidates to announce plans to run for mayor in 2023 so far are Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th), businessman and philanthropist Willie Wilson, and Chicago Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara.
Other potential candidates include Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, Chicago Teachers Union vice president Stacy Davis Gates, Illinois State Rep. Kam Buckner, State Rep. La Shawn Ford, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, and community activist Ja'Mal Green.
Vallas recently told the Chicago Sun-Times he will decide on a potential bid for mayor by Memorial Day.
Former U.S. Education Secretary and former CPS CEO Arne Duncan has said he will not run.
