Illinois Legislative News: July 21, 2025
Third Reading Consulting Group
In a press conference held on Wednesday, July 16, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced that she would not seek reelection for a fourth term. Prior to becoming Comptroller in a 2016 special election, Mendoza served as a six-term Illinois State Representative in the 1st District. Elected in 2000, she was the youngest member in the General Assembly at the time. In 2011, she became the first woman ever elected as Chicago City Clerk, where she stayed for two terms before assuming the office of Illinois Comptroller.
Throughout her three terms as Illinois Comptroller, Mendoza, in conjunction with the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. JB Pritzker, have worked to strengthen Illinois finances while increasing transparency and accountability. Under Mendoza, Illinois received a total of nine credit upgrades, reduced its backlog of unpaid bills by $13.2 billion in five years, and cut vendor payment times from over 10 months to under 30 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Comptroller Mendoza saved $82 million by paying off federal loans two years ahead of schedule. As comptroller, she promoted General Assembly legislation, such as the Debt Transparency Act, Truth in Hiring Act, Budgeting for Debt Act, and the Vendor Payment Program Transparency Act.
Some have speculated that Mendoza may be eyeing the Chicago Mayoral Election in 2027. While she did not comment on a potential mayoral campaign, she did tell reporters that she’s “now walking away from the public” and that she was “excited to leave the door open.” Mendoza however did discuss the needs of the City of Chicago, stating that “Chicago is in dire need of competency… I think we’ve had two very unsuccessful mayors in a row.” With Mendoza’s announcement that she will not run for reelection, the field of potential replacements for the Comptroller position will begin to take shape in the coming months ahead of the 2026 election.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
October 14-16 – Veto Session Week 1
October 28-30 – Veto Session Week 2