Daniel Biss

Mayor Daniel Biss was elected mayor of Evanston, Illinois in February 2021 and was sworn into office on May 10, 2021.

Daniel began his career as a mathematics professor at the University of Chicago before becoming an organizer and then elected official, serving as a member of the Illinois House and Senate for eight years prior to becoming mayor.

Daniel’s public service has consistently featured cutting-edge initiatives to advance social, racial, and economic justice and political reform. In the legislature, he led the fight to create Secure Choice, a retirement savings program that has become a national model, and passed historic legislation that led to a ban on so-called LGBTQ “conversion therapy.” Under his leadership as mayor, Evanston has distributed the first municipal reparations to Black residents, established a guaranteed income pilot, and advanced political reforms, such as ranked choice voting.

He has earned numerous recognitions for his work, including the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Legislator of the Year award, the Richard J. Phelan Profile in Courage Award from Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, and designation as one of Crain’s Chicago 40 Under 40.

Daniel lives with his wife Karin, who teaches humanities and social science at National Louis University, and their two children.