DAVE
SODEN
A Stronger Chicago.
Together.
Dave Soden is a lifelong Chicagoan committed to safer streets, a thriving economy, and city services that work for every neighborhood β from Bronzeville to Rogers Park.
A Chicagoan Built
By This City
Dave Soden grew up on Chicago's North Side, went to Chicago public schools, and built his career right here β working alongside the neighbors, small business owners, teachers, and first responders who make this city run.
He's seen firsthand what Chicago looks like when city government works β and what it looks like when it doesn't. That's why he's running: to be a mayor who shows up, listens, and delivers real results for real people.
Dave believes Chicago's best days are ahead of us β but only if we make smart investments in public safety, bring good-paying jobs to every corner of the city, and build the kind of trust between residents and their government that makes a great city great.
Dave Shows Up β Every Day
From the lakefront to the L platform to neighborhood murals β Dave is on the ground, listening and leading.
Stronger Neighborhoods
Dave is on the lakefront, on the block, and at the kitchen table β hearing directly from the people who make Chicago home.
Better Transit
Riding the CTA isn't a photo op for Dave β it's how he understands what daily riders deal with, and what needs to change.
Investing in Youth
Chicago's kids deserve opportunity in every neighborhood. Dave is committed to putting resources where the next generation lives.
Dave's Plan for Chicago
Real solutions. Practical leadership. Results in every ZIP code.
Safer Neighborhoods
- β Fund proven community violence intervention programs in every district
- β Hire and retain 1,500 additional officers while rebuilding trust through accountability
- β Invest in mental health crisis response so police aren't the only answer
- β Light up Chicago's parks, underpasses, and transit corridors
Stronger Economy
- β Cut red tape so small businesses can open faster and stay open
- β Create a Chicago Small Business Fund to provide low-interest startup loans
- β Attract major employers to underinvested South and West Side corridors
- β Expand workforce training partnerships with City Colleges and trade unions
Better City Services
- β Fix Chicago's streets β a full 5-year road and alley repair plan
- β Reform the permitting process from 90 days to 30 days
- β Expand 24/7 mental health clinics on the South and West Sides
- β Make the CTA safer, cleaner, and more reliable for daily riders
Investing in Kids
- β After-school and summer programming at every Chicago Park District site
- β Fully fund Chicago Public Schools without the yearly budget crises
- β Free pre-K for every three- and four-year-old in the city
- β Mentorship pipelines connecting youth with local business leaders
Affordable Housing
- β Build or preserve 20,000 affordable units in the next four years
- β End chronic homelessness with a Housing First approach
- β Protect long-term residents from displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods
- β Fast-track permits for missing-middle and mixed-income development
A Greener Chicago
- β Plant 75,000 trees and create urban green corridors city-wide
- β Upgrade city-owned buildings to net-zero energy by 2035
- β Expand bike lanes and protected pedestrian infrastructure
- β Environmental justice investment for communities overburdened by pollution
Dave's Chicago is
Every Corner
Dave isn't a candidate for certain zip codes. He's running for all of Chicago β from the lakefront to the city limits, north to south, and everywhere in between.
Upcoming
Events
Come meet Dave in your neighborhood. He wants to hear from you β not just talk at you.
Chicagoans for Dave
From neighborhood block clubs to small business owners β Chicago is rallying behind Dave Soden.
Dave Soden understands what working families on the South Side need. He shows up, he listens, and he delivers. That's why I'm proud to support him.
As a Catholic school teacher for 18 years, I've seen what happens when the city prioritizes kids β and when it doesn't. Dave is the real deal for our schools.
Dave knocked on my door, sat at my kitchen table, and talked with me for an hour about what it's like living on my block. That kind of leader is rare.
He's put together the most thoughtful economic plan I've seen from a Chicago mayoral candidate in a decade. The business community needs Dave Soden.
Dave isn't just talking about violence prevention β he's been in the community doing the work for years. He has my full support.
Chicago's future depends on leaders who put people over politics. Dave Soden is exactly that kind of mayor.
As Seen In
This Campaign is
People-Powered
The only way we win Chicago is together. Whether you can knock on doors, make phone calls, host a gathering in your home, or put a sign in your yard β every action matters.
Join Team Dave
Tell us a little about yourself and how you'd like to help.