Ald. Chris Taliaferro Faces 2 Challengers In 29th Ward Race

AUSTIN — Ald. Chris Taliaferro will face two challengers while seeking a fourth term in City Council. Taliaferro is running for reelection after this third term leading the 29th Ward and is facing two challengers: James Morgan and Yvette McKinnie. Both challengers face objections to their ballot petitions. The 29th Ward includes parts of Austin, Belmont Cragin, Galewood, Dunning and Montclare. Taliaferro held a campaign kick-off event for his reelection on July 14, according to his campaign. The former Chicago police sergeant was first elected in 2015 following a 23-year career with the department. After winning reelection in 2023, Taliaferro said he planned to prioritize preventing crime and make efforts to “make myself more visible in the community” during his new term. Taliaferro is the chair of the City Council’s police and fire committee Morgan is running for alderman after retiring from a 30-year career with city of Chicago. Morgan’s campaign website does not specifically state the roles he held, but experience in city government “taught him how municipal services shape daily life and the health of a neighborhood,” according to the website. Morgan’s endorsements include William J.P. Banks, former 36th Ward alderman and chairman of the city’s zoning committee. During Banks’ tenure from 1983 to 2009, the 36th Ward included areas of the current 29th Ward, according to Banks’ endorsement letter . Former 29th Ward alderman candidate CB Johnson also endorsed Morgan. In the most recent municipal election in 2023, Johnson narrowly lost to Taliaferro in a runoff election that at one point was split by only 12 votes. A Galewood-Montclare resident, Morgan said his priorities in office would include public safety, “responsible” development, dependable city services and being responsive to constituent requests. McKinnie is the founder of Austin nonprofit Life Changing Community Outreach, according to the organization’s website . The website described McKinnie as having lived in Austin over 50 years, including 30 years of experience working in violence prevention, job readiness and youth programming. She does not appear to have a campaign website or a political social media account. Both Morgan and McKinnie’s nominating petitions have received challenges that could get them thrown off the ballot, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. The challenges will be heard by the board, which will rule on their validity and determine who made the ballot by mid-December. There are no challenges to Taliaferro’s petitions. The election is Feb. 23. ______________________________________________________________________ Support Local News! Subscribe to Block Club Chicago , an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription , or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation. Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: From Stoves To Overhead Heat: The History Of The CTA’s Warming Lamps Episode play icon From Stoves To Overhead Heat: The History Of The CTA’s Warming Lamps Episode play icon Should Chicago Have Public Festival Grounds? It’s On The Ballot. Episode play icon Need A Halloween Costume? A Chicago Thrifting Expert Shares Her Secrets Load More Search Results placeholder Previous Episode Show Episodes List Next Episode