Elliot Oats, a 22-year-old union steward, has jumped into the race to become Evanston's next mayor, adding a labor-aligned voice to a growing field of candidates competing in next spring's special election.

Oats announced his candidacy Thursday, July 10, becoming the third confirmed candidate for the Tuesday, April 6, 2027 special election, according to Evanston Now. He said he "wants to be a part of shaping" the city's future.

His entry follows lawyer Jade Carpenter, who announced her campaign Wednesday, July 9, and Jeff Boarini, who declared earlier. The race was set in motion after Mayor Daniel Biss announced he would resign Sunday, October 18, to pursue his congressional campaign full-time.

A part-time job with full-time stakes

The position Oats is seeking pays just over $25,000 a year and is classified as part-time, despite overseeing a $400 million-plus municipal budget for a city of about 76,000 residents, according to the Chicago Tribune. That tension between the role's scope and its compensation is especially relevant for a 22-year-old union worker entering a field that includes a practicing attorney.

Biss himself has acknowledged the mismatch. "One thing that I think is critical is that you want working people and people who are not independently wealthy to be able to do this job, and so the expectations and compensation should be aligned to make that possible," he told the Tribune.

How the race got here

Biss chose his October 18 resignation date specifically to ensure the vacancy triggers a special election in spring 2027, rather than leaving an appointed successor in place through 2029, according to the Tribune. He won the Democratic primary for Illinois' 9th Congressional District and faces Republican John Elleson in the Tuesday, November 3, 2026 general election.

"My purpose in picking that date is to minimize the amount of time that the people of Evanston have a mayor who they didn't choose in an election," Biss said when he announced his departure.

What comes next

Candidates must formally file petitions between Monday, October 19 and Monday, October 26. Until then, additional candidates may still enter. The winner of the April 6 special election will serve out the remainder of Biss's term through 2029.

Biss remains in office until his October 18 resignation takes effect.