LOGAN SQUARE — Two local residents have officially entered the race for the 35th Ward aldermanic seat, challenging incumbent Alderman Anthony Quezada in the upcoming 2026 municipal election. The filings, submitted to the Chicago Board of Elections by the Oct. 26 deadline, place Quezada, who was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson over a year ago, on the ballot alongside his challengers.
Who is running
Anthony Quezada was appointed after former Alderman Carlos Ramirez‑Rosa left to head the Chicago Park District. Quezada, a Logan Square native, is the second‑youngest member of the City Council. He has continued many of his predecessor’s progressive initiatives, including the ward’s community zoning process, affordable‑housing funding, renters’ rights proposals, and infrastructure projects such as added bike lanes and traffic‑safety studies.
Quezada has also worked with city officials to attract new businesses, address homelessness, and improve public‑transportation options. He has publicly supported protecting immigrant families from deportations under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Before his appointment, Quezada served two years as the 8th District Cook County commissioner, becoming the youngest and first openly gay Latino commissioner on the board. He also previously held the role of 35th Ward Democratic committeeman.
Challengers
Daniel Tobón is an Army veteran, attorney, and businessman. This is his second attempt to win the aldermanic seat; he was among six candidates who applied to fill the vacancy after Ramirez‑Rosa’s departure. Born in Colombia, Tobón has served as the Illinois state captain for VoteVets, the nation’s largest progressive veterans organization, and co‑founded the Progressive Alliance PAC of Cook County. He is a father of three, a community representative for Kelvyn Park High School’s Local School Council, and the Veterans Service Officer for the Logan Square‑Avondale VFW Post No. 2978. Tobón also runs a business with operations in Colombia and a company focused on the cannabis and hemp industry, emphasizing social‑justice principles.
On his campaign website, Tobón says his platform centers on expanding affordable housing by removing “unnecessary barriers that make housing more expensive to build,” streamlining permitting for small businesses, and supporting public schools, transit, and immigrant communities. He also advocates moving municipal elections to November to align with federal and state elections, hoping to boost voter turnout.
Omari Bektemba works for Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, a low‑income housing provider that manages several properties in Logan Square and Humboldt Park. He previously taught at Goethe Elementary School in Logan Square and holds a master’s degree in urban planning and public policy from the University of Illinois Chicago. Bektemba’s experience includes serving on a steering committee for the city’s Department of Housing.
Bektemba’s campaign priorities include increased investment in public transportation and road‑safety infrastructure, especially for cyclists, as well as zoning reform to facilitate more housing development. He emphasizes the need for safe streets and reliable transit for all residents.
What’s at stake
The 35th Ward encompasses much of Logan Square, Avondale, and portions of Hermosa and Belmont Cragin. With Quezada’s record of progressive policies and the challengers’ focus on affordable housing, small‑business permitting, and election reform, the race promises a robust debate on how best to serve a diverse, growing community.
Voters will receive a ballot that lists all three candidates after the Board of Elections certifies the filings. The election will be the first time Quezada faces a direct challenge since his appointment, offering residents a clear choice on the future direction of the ward.
Next steps
Both challengers have begun outreach efforts, holding meet‑and‑greet events and sharing their platforms through community meetings and social media. Residents are encouraged to review each candidate’s positions and attend upcoming forums to ask questions before casting their votes in the 2026 municipal election.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
