Chicago mayor's race expands as former cardiologist Lisa Nee enters contest

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago mayor's race grew to nine declared candidates Tuesday as Dr. Lisa Nee, a former cardiologist and whistleblower, announced she is running for mayor.

Speaking from the backyard of her Lincoln Park home, Nee said she is entering the race to restore confidence in city government.

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"I love everything about the city, and I want to bring public trust back to the city," she said. "And I think Chicago deserves a leadership that listens to them, solves problems, and earns that trust and bring that responsibility back to City Hall."

Nee, who previously worked at Hines Veterans Hospital and became a whistleblower more than a decade ago after uncovering problems with veterans' care, said those experiences shaped her approach to leadership.

"It wasn't just about me saying this is going on, this is what I think should be fixed. It was getting buy-in from people along the way. That's a long game, that's not a short-term game," she said.

The former health care equity executive said she believes voters may be open to an outsider.

"I also think when you work outside of politics, the collaborations you build have to be real, right? You have to be able to pull things through," Nee said. "So, if you look at a problem, you can't just put forth some type of platitude and say this is what people want to hear."

Nee listed affordability, public safety and fiscal responsibility as her top priorities.

"So, my priority would be to be the collaborator in chief to build that best team possible," she said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, who once used the phrase "collaborator in chief" to describe himself, has not yet said whether he will seek reelection. Johnson is widely expected to run, but he has avoided making any public commitment.

"As far as my political future, I believe that some point I will get a chance to have a deeper conversation with my wife and those who are closest to me," he said when asked about his plans.

Nee argued the mayor is politically vulnerable.

"I think the mayor is vulnerable because he made a lot of decisions in isolation, and I don't think you can do that and get the complex problems that we have, solved," she said.

As a political novice, ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington said her campaign could be an uphill battle.

"She is truly an outsider," Washington said. "Her challenges, she doesn't have the political experience and she doesn't have the government and management experience that voters may be looking for in the next mayor."

With nine candidates declared and three others considered likely or possible contenders, questions about Johnson's intentions continue to follow him. When asked whether there was any chance he would not run for reelection, Johnson laughed before responding that Chicagoans have been asking him the same question.

"At least I know that you're on par with where people are," he said.

"With a crowded race like this that always favors the incumbent, particularly when you have a situation where you have a possible runoff, he is going to have an advantage because he's going to be the incumbent well-known and he's going to have his base," Washington said.

Current challengers include prominent and well-known politicians, such as U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas, former CHA Chair Matt Brewer, Liam Stanton, government consultant/lobbyist John Kelly Jr and Joe Holberg. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has said she is running, but will not kick off her campaign until after the 2026 election.

Illinois Secretary of State Alex Giannoulias is also rumored to be considering a run. He's got a massive $18.3 million campaign war chest.

Bill Conway of the 34th Ward and well known Chicago businessman Dr. Willie Wilson are both rumored to be eyeing to enter the contest. It would be Wilson's fourth attempt at being elected mayor.

Candidates for mayor can begin circulating nominating petitions in three weeks. Petitions are due Oct. 26, and the election is scheduled for February 23, 2027.

If a candidate doesn't get a majority of the vote in the first election, then there'll be a run-off election set for Tuesday, April 6.