Here’s a look at how the game of musical chairs may play out in Evanston if Mayor Daniel Biss wins election to the U.S. House next fall.

Given the strong likelihood that whoever wins the Democratic primary on March 17 will go on to win the 9th District Congressional seat on Nov. 3, a risk-taking candidate might decide to resign the mayor’s job before the general election.

A more cautious candidate would likely wait until after the general election to resign the mayoralty.

The absolute deadline for Biss to resign would be the day he would take office in Washington on Jan. 3, 2027.

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Related: Minority bloc sees path to council control (10/7/25)

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Under state law the City Council would have 60 days after the mayor’s resignation, 65 ILCS 5/5-2-12(g), to appoint an acting mayor from among its members, 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50(f)(1).

If the mayor resigns more than 130 days before the April 6, 2027 consolidated election, then state law provides that the voters would get to choose someone in that election to fill the remaining two year’s of the mayor’s term.

Otherwise the acting mayor would serve until a new council is elected in April 2029.

So Biss would have only until Nov. 27, 2026 to resign to set up a mayoral election in 2027.

Under state law, 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50(d) whoever is chosen acting mayor has two options for how to treat the position.

The acting mayor can choose to resign from office as alderperson and then under, 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50(f)(2) appoint someone to fill the aldermanic vacancy.

In that case the acting mayor will exercise the powers of the mayor and have the voting and veto powers of the mayor.

Alternatively the acting mayor could choose to continue in office as alderperson, vote as an alderperson, and exercise the powers of the mayor — but not have the mayoral veto power.

In that case, if an election were held in April 2027 to fill the mayor’s job, the acting mayor would return to the role of alderperson for the remainder of the term ending in 2029.

The first option gives the acting mayor the chance to appoint a like-minded successor to the aldermanic position. The second lets the acting mayor continue to vote on every issue that comes before the council.