John Laesch

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John Laesch
Mayor of Aurora
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 13, 2025
Preceded byRichard Irvin
Alderman of Aurora at-large
In office
May 2023 – May 2025
Preceded bySherman Jenkins
Personal details
Born1974 (age 51–52)
Monrovia, Liberia
PartyDemocratic
SpouseJennifer Laesch
Illinois State University
ProfessionUnion Carpenter

John Laesch (born 1974) is an American Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Illinois. He is the mayor of Aurora, Illinois, after defeating incumbent Richard Irvin in 2025. He served as an alderman in Aurora from 2023 to 2025, and was a candidate for Congress in 2006 and 2008. He is a Democrat.

Early life and career

Laesch was born in Monrovia, Liberia to missionary parents. A veteran of the United States Navy, he enlisted in 1995 and served as an intelligence analyst in the Middle East. Following his honorable discharge from the military in 1999, Laesch earned a degree in history from Illinois State University.[1]

As of 2006, Laesch worked as a union carpenter.

Politics

Laesch is a political progressive.[1] He has held various leadership roles in Democratic campaigns in his state. In 2004, Laesch served as the campaign manager for David Gill in Illinois' 15th congressional district.[1]

In 2006, Laesch ran for Illinois's 14th congressional district against Republican Dennis Hastert. During this campaign, Hastert was linked to the 2006 Mark Foley scandal, which Laesch expected to help his campaign.[1][2] Laesch was considered a member of the Fighting Dems, former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who ran for election to the Congress in 2006.[3] On November 7, Laesch lost in his bid to unseat Hastert, with Hastert winning 59.79% to Laesch's 40.21%.[4]

Laesch ran in the 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election, following Hastert's resignation in 2007. However, he lost the Democratic primary to Bill Foster (who later went on to flip the seat).[5][6] Laesch ran again in the November 2008 election for the seat, and again lost to Foster in the primary.[7]

Laesch successfully ran for the East Aurora School District 131 board in 2015, winning a four-year term.[8][9] Laesch did not run for reelection in 2019, leaving office on April 30 of that year.[10]

Laesch ran for mayor of Aurora in 2021, but lost to Richard Irvin. He successfully ran for an at-large seat on Aurora's city council in 2023, defeating incumbent Sherman Jenkins.[11][12]

In 2025, Laesch again ran for mayor against Irvin. He won the election by about 7 percentage points.[12]

In September 2025, Laesch defied presidential and state government orders to lower flags at all public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations, and throughout the United States through September 14th in honor of all victims of political violence.[13] This was after Charlie Kirk had just been assassinated on September 10th.[14]

Electoral history

2025 Aurora mayoral general election (runoff)[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Laesch 9,944 53.1
Nonpartisan Richard C. Irvin (Incumbent) 8,781 46.9
Total votes 18,725 100.0
2025 Aurora mayoral primary election[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Richard C. Irvin (Incumbent) 4,060 40.2
Nonpartisan John Laesch 3,386 33.5
Nonpartisan Theodoros "Ted" Mesiacos 1,206 11.9
Nonpartisan Judd Lofchie 1,020 10.1
Nonpartisan Karina Garcia 378 3.7
Nonpartisan Jazmine Garcia 60 0.6
Total votes 10,110 100.0
2023 Aurora alderman-at-large election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Laesch 4,725 53.79
Nonpartisan Sherman Jenkins 3,341 38.03
Nonpartisan Mansa Lathan Williams 719 8.18
Total votes 8,785 100.00
2021 Aurora mayoral election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Richard C. Irvin (Incumbent) 6,697 55.59
Nonpartisan Judd Lofchie 2,806 23.29
Nonpartisan John Laesch 2,544 21.12
Total votes 12,047 100.00
2015 East Aurora School District 131, At-Large General Election, 4-year term[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Alex Arroyo 1,336 18.6
Nonpartisan Kenneth Darby 937 13.1
Nonpartisan Kimberly Hatchett 893 12.4
Nonpartisan John Laesch 837 11.7
Nonpartisan Mary Garza 764 10.6
Nonpartisan Raymond Hull (Incumbent) 751 10.5
Nonpartisan Anita Lewis 643 9.0
Nonpartisan Mary Louise Peryea (Incumbent) 537 7.5
Nonpartisan Julie Garofalo 479 6.7
Total votes 7,177 100.0
2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election, Democratic primary[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Foster 32,982 49.60
Democratic John Laesch 28,433 42.76
Democratic Jotham Stein 5,082 7.64
Total votes 66,497 100.00
2006 Illinois's 14th congressional district election[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Hastert (Incumbent) 117,870 59.79
Democratic John Laesch 79,274 40.21
Total votes 197,144 100.00

References

  1. Harkinson, Josh (2006-10-06). "Can Democrat John Laesch Take Down Hastert?". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on November 28, 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
  2. ""Hands on Hastert" is "hands off Foley"". John Laesch for Congress. 2006-10-02. Archived from the original on 2006-10-14. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  3. "The Fighting Dems". Archived from the original on June 8, 2006.
  4. "GE2006Tot". Illinois Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  5. name="Ballots Cast". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  6. "Ballots Cast". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  7. "GP2008Tot". Illinois Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  8. "Election Summary Report - April 7, 2015 - Consolidated Election - Jurisdiction Wide - Official Results" (PDF). Aurora Election Commission. April 21, 2015. p. 2. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  9. Belsha, Kalyn (May 22, 2019). "East Aurora School Board re-elects Annette Johnson as president". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  10. "New Board of Education members sworn in". East Aurora School District 131. April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  11. Lord, Steve (April 5, 2023). "John Laesch appears to have won Aurora alderman at large race". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  12. Blumberg, Nick (April 1, 2025). "2-Term Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin Concedes to Challenger John Laesch". WTTW. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  13. Pritzker, JB (September 12, 2025). "Governor's Order Flag Honors for Victims of Political Violence". Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  14. "Aurora mayor defends decision to fly flags at full-staff this weekend". Chicago Tribune. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  15. "John Laesch (Mayor_of_Aurora,_Illinois,_candidate_2025)". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  16. "John Laesch (Mayor_of_Aurora,_Illinois,_candidate_2025)". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  17. "Laesch Poised To Unseat Jenkins For Alderperson At Large: Unofficial Results". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  18. Addy, Jason (April 6, 2021). "'Let's Continue Moving Aurora Forward': Mayor Irvin Wins 2nd Term". patch.com.
  19. "John Laesch". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  20. "Ballots Cast". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  21. "IL District 14 (November 7, 2006 election)". www.ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.