# 7th ward, Chicago

The 7th Ward is one of the 50 aldermanic wards with representation in the City Council of Chicago, Illinois.

## History

The ward was created on February 16, 1847, when the number of wards in the city increased from six to nine. Also created were the 8th and 9th wards.

## Past alders

The current alderperson for the 7th ward is Gregory Mitchell, who has represented the ward since 2015.

### Before 1923

Before 1923, wards were represented by two aldermen.
| Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | # Council | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen | Aldermen |
| Alderman | Alderman | Alderman | Term in office | Party | Notes | Cite | # Council | Alderman | Alderman | Alderman | Term in office | Party | Notes | Cite |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1847–1848 | | Redistricted from 4th ward | | 11th | | | Charles Sloan | 1847–1849 | | | |
| | | Peter Turbot | 1848–1850 | | | | 12th | | | Charles Sloan | 1847–1849 | | | |
| | | Peter Turbot | 1848–1850 | | | | 13th | | | George Brady | 1849–1851 | | Previously served in the 5th ward | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1850–1852 | | | | 13th | | | George Brady | 1849–1851 | | Previously served in the 5th ward | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1850–1852 | | | | 14th | | | George Brady | 1849–1851 | | Previously served in the 5th ward | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1850–1852 | | | | 15th | | | Charles E. Moore | 1851–1853 | | | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1850–1852 | | | | 16th | | | Charles E. Moore | 1851–1853 | | | |
| | | Ezra Taylor | 1853–1854 | | | | 16th | | | Charles E. Moore | 1851–1853 | | | |
| | | Ezra Taylor | 1853–1854 | | | | 17th | | | Maurice Evans | 1853 | | | |
| | | Ezra Taylor | 1853–1854 | | | | 17th | | | Michael O'Neil | 1853–1855 | | | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1854–1856 | | | | 18th | | | Michael O'Neil | 1853–1855 | | | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1854–1856 | | | | 19th | | | James J.H. Howe | 1855–1857 | | Previously served in 6th ward | |
| | | John Dempsey | 1856–1858 | | | | 20th | | | James J.H. Howe | 1855–1857 | | Previously served in 6th ward | |
| | | John Dempsey | 1856–1858 | | | | 21st | | | John Dunlap | 1957–1859 | | | |
| | | Henry Wendt | 1958–1860 | | | | 22nd | | | John Dunlap | 1957–1859 | | | |
| | | Henry Wendt | 1958–1860 | | | | 23rd | | | John Alston | 1859–1861 | | | |
| | | Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard | 1860– 1862 | | | | 24th | | | John Alston | 1859–1861 | | | |
| | | Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard | 1860– 1862 | | | | 25th | | | Alonzo Harvey | 1861–1863 | | | |
| | | James Conlan | 1862–1863 | | Redistricted to 15th ward in 1863 | | 26th | | | Alonzo Harvey | 1861–1863 | | | |
| | | James E. Abbott | 1863–1864 | | | | 27th | | | John Comiskey | 1863–1865 | Democratic | Redistricted from 10th ward; later elected alderman again in 1867 in 8th ward | |
| | | Joseph Sherwin | 1864–1866 | | | | 28th | | | John Comiskey | 1863–1865 | Democratic | Redistricted from 10th ward; later elected alderman again in 1867 in 8th ward | |
| | | Joseph Sherwin | 1864–1866 | | | | 29th | | | Avery Moore | 1865–1867 | | Later elected alderman again in 1872 in 13th ward | |
| | | Max Schuler | 1866–1868 | | | | 30th | | | Avery Moore | 1865–1867 | | Later elected alderman again in 1872 in 13th ward | |
| | | Max Schuler | 1866–1868 | | | | 31st | | | John Macalister | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | James H. Hildreth | 1868–1869 | | Redistricted to 8th ward in 1869 | | 32nd | | | John Macalister | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | James H. Hildreth | 1868–1869 | | Redistricted to 8th ward in 1869 | | 33rd | | | John Macalister | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | William Batterman | 1869–1871 | | | | 34th | | | P.J. Hickey | 1869–1872 | | | |
| | | William Batterman | 1869–1871 | | | | 35th | | | P.J. Hickey | 1869–1872 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1871–1876 | Democratic | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1876 | | 36th | | | P.J. Hickey | 1869–1872 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1871–1876 | Democratic | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1876 | | 37th | | | Patrick McClory | 1872–1876 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1871–1876 | Democratic | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1876 | | 38th | | | Patrick McClory | 1872–1876 | | | |
| | | Edward Cullerton | 1871–1876 | Democratic | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1876 | | 39th | | | Patrick McClory | 1872–1876 | | | |
| | | James H. Hildreth | 1876–1877 | | Redistricted from 8th ward | | 40th | | | Henry Keber | 1876–1878 | | | |
| | | James H. Hildreth | 1876–1877 | | Redistricted from 8th ward | | 41st | | | Henry Keber | 1876–1878 | | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 42nd | | | John McNally | 1878–1880 | | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 43rd | | | John McNally | 1878–1880 | | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 44th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 45th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 46th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 47th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | John Riordan | 1878–1885 | Democratic | | | 48th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | Joseph M. Weber | 1885–1888 | Republican | Redistricted to 8th ward in 1888 | | 49th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | Joseph M. Weber | 1885–1888 | Republican | Redistricted to 8th ward in 1888 | | 50th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | Joseph M. Weber | 1885–1888 | Republican | Redistricted to 8th ward in 1888 | | 51st | | | James H. Hildreth | 1880–1888 | Democratic | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1888–1893 | | | | 52nd | | | William Love | 1888–1890 | | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1888–1893 | | | | 53rd | | | William Love | 1888–1890 | | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1888–1893 | | | | 54th | | | John A. Cooke | 1890–1896 | Republican | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1888–1893 | | | | 55th | | | John A. Cooke | 1890–1896 | Republican | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1888–1893 | | | | 56th | | | John A. Cooke | 1890–1896 | Republican | | |
| | | William J. O'Neill | 1893–1895 | | | | 57th | | | John A. Cooke | 1890–1896 | Republican | | |
| | | William J. O'Neill | 1893–1895 | | | | 58th | | | John A. Cooke | 1890–1896 | Republican | | |
| | | Edward Haas | 1895–1897 | | | | 59th | | | John A. Cooke | 1890–1896 | Republican | | |
| | | Edward Haas | 1895–1897 | | | | 60th | | | Nathan T. Brenner | 1896–1898 | | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1897–1899 | | | | 61st | | | Nathan T. Brenner | 1896–1898 | | | |
| | | William J. Murphy | 1897–1899 | | | | 62nd | | | Henry F. Fick | 1898–1901 | | Redistricted to 9th ward in 1901 | |
| | | Nathan T. Brenner | 1899–1901 | | Redistricted to 9th ward in 1901 | | 63rd | | | Henry F. Fick | 1898–1901 | | Redistricted to 9th ward in 1901 | |
| | | Nathan T. Brenner | 1899–1901 | | Redistricted to 9th ward in 1901 | | 64th | | | Henry F. Fick | 1898–1901 | | Redistricted to 9th ward in 1901 | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 65th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 66th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 67th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 68th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 69th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 70th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 71st | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Frank I. Bennett | 1901–1909 | Republican | Redistricted from 34th ward; died in office | | 72nd | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Charles E. Merriam | 1909–1911 | Republican | | | 73rd | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Charles E. Merriam | 1909–1911 | Republican | | | 74th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| | | Willis O. Nance | 1911–1912 | | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1912 | | 75th | | | Bernard W. Snow | 1902–1912 | Republican | | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 76th | | | John H. Helwig | 1912–1914 | | | |
| | | Charles E. Merriam | 1913–1917 | Independent | Previously represented same ward | | 77th | | | John H. Helwig | 1912–1914 | | | |
| | | Charles E. Merriam | 1913–1917 | Independent | Previously represented same ward | | 78th | | | John N. Kimball | 1914–1918 | | | |
| | | Charles E. Merriam | 1913–1917 | Independent | Previously represented same ward | | 79th | | | John N. Kimball | 1914–1918 | | | |
| | | Charles E. Merriam | 1913–1917 | Independent | Previously represented same ward | | 80th | | | John N. Kimball | 1914–1918 | | | |
| | | William R. Fetzer | 1917–1920?? | Republican | | | 81st | | | John N. Kimball | 1914–1918 | | | |
| | | William R. Fetzer | 1917–1920?? | Republican | | | 82nd | | | Guy Guernsey | 1918–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 6th ward | |
| | | William R. Fetzer | 1917–1920?? | Republican | | | 83rd | | | Guy Guernsey | 1918–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 6th ward | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 84th | | | Guy Guernsey | 1918–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 6th ward | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 85th | | | Guy Guernsey | 1918–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 6th ward | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 86th | | | Guy Guernsey | 1918–1923 | Republican | Continued as alderman after 1923, but redistricted to 6th ward | |

### Since 1923

Since 1923, wards have been represented by a single alderman. Elections have also been nonpartisan, though officeholders often still publicly affiliate with parties.
| Alderperson | Term in office | Party | Notes |
| Ross A. Woodhull | 1923–1928 | | redistricted from 8th ward; resigned from office |
| Clement A. Nance | 1929–1931 | | |
| Barnet Hodes | 1931–1933 | | |
| Thomas J. Daley | 1933–1937 | Democratic | |
| Nicholas J. Bohling | 1943–1971 | Republican | Resigned in order to accept an appointed judgeship |
| Robert S. Wilinski | 1972–1973 | | Did not seek re-election after being redistricted outside of the ward's boundaries |
| Gerald E. Jones | 1973–1975 | | |
| Robert S. Wilinski | 1975–1979 | | Previously represented the same ward |
| Joseph G. Bertand | 1979–1983 | | |
| William Beavers | 1983–2006 | Democratic | Resigned in order to take office as a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners |
| Darcel Beavers | 2006–2007 | Democratic | Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley |
| Sandi Jackson | 2007–2013 | Democratic | Resigned while under criminal indictment |
| Natashia Holmes | 2013–15 | Democratic | Appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel |
| Gregory Mitchell | 2015–present | Democratic | |