As Mayor Daniel Biss eyes his potential departure to Washington, many Evanston residents are split on his tenure and setting expectations for his replacement. They also point to his response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, housing policies and democratic processes as features of his mayoral term.
In March, Biss secured the Democratic nomination in the race to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District following a decade in public office. He previously served in the Illinois General Assembly.
Ninth Ward resident Paul Westbrook said he is dismayed that Biss, who was reelected in 2025, seems unlikely to complete his four-year mayoral term.
“I’m a little disappointed that when he got reelected a year ago, he promised that he was going to stay around,” Westbrook said.
Westbrook said he’s been both supportive and critical of some of Biss’s actions during the mayor’s five-year tenure. Specifically, Westbrook said he is in favor of the work Biss put into projects like Envision Evanston 2045.
After nearly two years of debate, City Council passed the Envision Evanston comprehensive plan, a vision document which outlines the city’s economic development, housing, transportation and environmental goals.
Throughout his mayoral reelection campaign, Biss championed the development initiatives outlined in the plan, and it quickly became a focal point of his campaign. The zoning code revision remains under discussion.
Third Ward resident John Storey Williamson, a founding member of the Evanston Action Coalition, said the comprehensive planning process raised questions regarding how decisions were made in the city.
“Evanston works best when major policy changes follow a clear sequence of community input, Council direction and then staff implementation,” Storey Williamson said. “In several cases over Biss’s tenure, that sequence has felt reversed.”
Alternatively, 3rd Ward resident Katie MacDonald said she appreciated Biss’ support on housing policies as a member of her tenant’s union, citing updates to the city’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance.
In addition to debates tying rezoning to affordable housing, Biss presided over other conversations related to zoning. In a controversial move in 2023, Biss cast the tiebreaking vote to allow Northwestern to host concerts in the new Ryan Field, in what he later wrote would be “a generational investment” that would help drive the city’s local economy.
Biss even garnered national attention in the fall for his strong stance against ICE presence in Evanston. Under Biss, the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance was updated in January 2025, which strengthened protections for immigrants in Evanston. In October, the city implemented “ICE free zones” to restrict immigration officers from using city property for operations.
MacDonald said Biss’ stance against increased federal immigration enforcement seemed “really outfront.” Ultimately, though, she approved of this work.
“I do see that he’s done a great job supporting residents, some of them vulnerable residents,” MacDonald said.
Biss continued to condemn ICE during his congressional campaign and said he aims to abolish the agency if he makes it to Washington.
Still, as the city reexamines the process by which it will replace Biss, 7th Ward resident Kiera Kelly said she is unhappy that Evanston must now contend with the mayor’s potential departure.
“(Biss has said) the goal would be to have the shortest time possible that residents do not have an unelected mayor,” she said. “Biss, who positions himself as a national leader standing up for democracy, may intentionally deprive Evanston of an election.”
To trigger a special election, Biss must resign by Oct. 19, before his November congressional election.
Kelly said that she hopes Biss’ potential successor “leans into the identity of Evanston.”
“I would like a candidate to really appreciate Evanston and be realistic about why people choose to live here,” Kelly said. “We have so many wonderful qualities and so much diversity. There’s something for everyone.”
MacDonald said she wants a mayor that ensures the needs of all residents are considered.
“There’s a lot of attention recently that’s been paid to making sure that residents across all wards have access to the same resources,” MacDonald said. “I hope that whoever is mayor continues to do that and make sure that their eyes are going across all of the wards.”
Correction: A previous version of this story misquoted Kiera Kelly. The Daily regrets this error.
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— The Daily Explains: If Biss goes to Congress, here’s how Evanston will replace him
— Biss wins Democratic congressional primary race
— City Council votes 5-4 to pass landmark comprehensive plan
