Leaked Video Shows Susana Mendoza Announcing Chicago Mayoral Run

CHICAGO — Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza might have mayoral aspirations, according to a video leaked last week. The brief footage shows Mendoza, who is running for re-election against Republican Darlene Senger on Tuesday, announcing her candidacy for Chicago mayor.

"Hi, I'm Susana Mendoza, and I'm running for mayor of Chicago, and I ask you to join me on this journey together," the former Chicago city clerk says in the six-second clip that leaked Friday.

Mendoza, in a statement, says she hasn't made a decision about a Chicago mayoral run and is concentrating on her current re-election run, according to the Chicago Tribune. She has said in the past that if both she and Gov. Bruce Rauner were to win re-election she would serve out the full four-year term, because the Republican governor would pick a replacement if she vacated the office, the report added.

The video announcement was recorded by AL Media. Eric Adelstein, the media strategist behind the company, told the Tribune he didn't know how the clip leaked.

"When we were filming the ads for the comptroller re-elect, I suggested that she record some lines in the event that she decides to run for mayor," Adelstein said. "I said, ‘There’s not a lot of time, and I know you haven’t made up your mind, let’s get ’em.’ I can tell you she absolutely has not made up her mind, and I might have jumped the gun on this."

Mendoza would join the long list of Chicago mayoral candidates — 17 at last count — if she decides to run in the Feb. 26 election. She could run while still serving as comptroller, only needing to give up the office if she won.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza (Photo via State of Illinois)