Aurora Residents Push For Mayor And Alderman Recall Mechanism In November Ballot

Aurora for Change Seeks 4000 Signatures To Put Recall Questions On Ballot

Aurora residents are organizing a push to add a recall mechanism for the mayor and at-large aldermen to the November 2026 ballot. The group Aurora for Change is circulating petitions to get two referendum questions in front of voters this fall.

The initiative would allow Aurora voters to remove a sitting mayor or alderman from office before their term expires if they collect enough signatures and win a recall vote. Organizers say they need at least 4000 signatures to qualify the measures for the ballot.

What The Recall Mechanism Would Do

Under the proposed mechanism, residents seeking to recall an elected official would need to circulate petitions with signatures equaling 20 percent of total votes cast in the most recent mayoral election. If enough signatures are gathered, a recall vote would be held in the next general election.

The official would be removed if a majority of voters support the recall. The Aurora City Council would then have 30 days to fill the vacancy. If more than 13 months remain in the term, a special election would be held within nine months.

Organizers Stress Nonpartisan Intent

Adam Pauley and Jayden Badillo are the two organizers behind Aurora for Change. Pauley serves as treasurer while Badillo is officially the chair.

Both men say the initiative is not aimed at any specific elected official. Pauley has run for elected office as a Democrat while Badillo is vice chair of the Aurora Township Republicans. They say their shared goal is civic engagement and accountability.

"This is bigger than any one person or any one mayoral administration," Pauley said. "It is about the ideas."

Badillo added that giving voters the ability to hold leaders accountable is hard to say no to.

"Would you like to have an additional ability to hold your leaders accountable? That is pretty hard to say no to," Pauley said.

Some Politicians Are Calling For Mayor Laesch To Be Recalled

Despite organizers stress that the effort is nonpartisan, some local politicians are publicly linking the recall mechanism to a push to remove current Mayor John Laesch from office.

Danny Souri, former chair of the Aurora Township Republicans, has specifically promoted the recall effort. Souri launched a separate group called the Aurora Renewal Coalition to support the initiative.

Former Mayor Richard Irvin, who lost the mayoral election to Laesch last year, is also publicly supporting Aurora for Change. Irvin has tied the recall mechanism to a plan to remove Laesch.

Badillo clarified that Souri is not officially involved with Aurora for Change. The recall mechanism effort is separate from Souri personal push to remove Laesch.

"As chairman, Im not going to refuse any volunteers," Badillo said about Souri potentially helping circulate petitions.

Other Illinois Communities Have Tried Similar Measures

Illinois state law currently provides a recall mechanism only for the governor, not for other elected officials. This hasn stopped some communities from trying.

Chicago voters failed in 2024 to get a mayoral recall mechanism through a referendum. Dolton succeeded in putting a recall measure on the ballot, which voters approved. An appellate court later struck down the measure after lawyers argued the referendum questions were improperly drafted.

The state of Illinois has not provided a formal recall mechanism for mayors or aldermen, making this effort unusual for a suburban community.

Thousands Of Signatures Still Needed

Pauley estimates the group needs around 7000 signatures to ensure the referendum questions make it onto the November ballot. The petitions were distributed starting on Friday.

The November 3 general election would be the target date if the group successfully qualifies the measures. If voters approve the recall mechanism, it would go into effect immediately.

The group continues to collect signatures as the campaign moves forward.