Richard Irvin, John Laesch Vie For Aurora Mayor: 2025 Election

AURORA, IL — Mayor Richard Irvin's second term as mayor of Aurora is coming to a close, and current alderperson-at-large John Laesch is challenging him for the seat for the second time.

Irvin and Laesch were the top two vote-getters in February's primary election, defeating Ted Mesiacos, Karina Garcia, Judd Lofchie and Jazmine Garcia, who had suspended her campaign and endorsed Laesch, to continue to Tuesday's consolidated election.

Lofchie and Laesch challenged Irvin in the 2021 election, when the incumbent mayor won with almost 56 percent of the vote.

Irvin was first elected in 2017, making history as the first Black mayor of Aurora, his hometown. He unsuccessfully ran for Illinois governor as a Republican in 2022, losing in the primary to Darren Bailey.

In the mayoral race, Irvin is considered the moderate candidate and Laesch — who made two unsuccessful bids for Congress — the progressive, according to a report from CBS News.

"I am running for mayor of our city because I am tired of seeing wealthy campaign donors and the politically connected drive the agenda in city hall while the concerns of Aurora taxpayers are often ignored," Laesch wrote on his campaign website. He cited Aurora's use of taxpayer money to subsidize Hollywood Casino's move and make improvements to surrounding roads as reasons he was elected to City Council in 2023.

If elected, Laesch's goals are to increase affordable single-family houses over apartment developments, support the arts and small businesses, prioritize urban planning that maximizes space and parking, pursue more grants, and keep green spaces open, according to his website.

"I believe that we need to work towards modernizing Aurora by having publicly-owned high speed broadband, capitalizing on renewable energy credits, attracting better-paying, living wage jobs, and working towards a more representative government," he said.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Aurora.

Alderperson roles in wards 1, 2, 4 and 7 as well as an alderman-at-large seat will also be up for election Tuesday. Here's a look at the candidates:

Alderperson at large

• Ron Woerman
• Keith Larson

Ward 1 (alderperson will serve an unexpired two-year term)

• Hugo Saltijeral
• Daniel Barreiro
• Jeffrey D Donelson
• Ray Hull

Ward 2

• Juany Garza
• Alfonso Santoyo

Ward 4

• Jonathan Nunez
• Jeffrey S. Hansford

Ward 7

• Javier Banuelos
• Brandon Tolliver