# 5th ward, Chicago

The 5th Ward is one of the 50 aldermanic wards with representation in the City Council of Chicago, Illinois.

## Past alders

The current alderperson for the 5th ward is Desmon Yancy.

### 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 |
| | | Francis C. Taylor | 1837–1838 | | | | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| | | Henry L. Rucker | 1838–1842 | | Later elected alderman again in 1849 in 2nd ward | | 2nd | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| | | Henry L. Rucker | 1838–1842 | | Later elected alderman again in 1849 in 2nd ward | | 3rd | | | John C. Wilson | 1839–1840 | | | |
| | | Henry L. Rucker | 1838–1842 | | Later elected alderman again in 1849 in 2nd ward | | 4th | | | William Allen | 1840–1841 | | | |
| | | Henry L. Rucker | 1838–1842 | | Later elected alderman again in 1849 in 2nd ward | | 5th | | | Samuel Grier | 1841–1842 | | | |
| | | George Brady | 1842–1843 | | Later elected alderman again in 1849 in 7th ward | | 6th | | | Edward Carroll | 1842–1843 | | | |
| | | John Curver | 1843–1844 | | | | 7th | | | Samuel Grier | 1843–1844 | | | |
| | | Thomas Brown | 1844–1845 | | | | 8th | | | Patrik Kain | 1844–1845 | | | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1845–1847 | | Redistricted to 7th ward in 1847 | | 9th | | | Samuel Grier | 1845–1847 | | | |
| | | Elihu Granger | 1845–1847 | | Redistricted to 7th ward in 1847 | | 10th | | | Samuel Grier | 1845–1847 | | | |
| | | Thomas James | 1847–1849 | | | | 11th | | | John Sheriffs | 1847–1848 | | | |
| | | Thomas James | 1847–1849 | | | | 12th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | E.H. Chapin | 1849 | | | | 13th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | Alson S. Sherman | 1849–1851 | | Previously served in 3rd ward | | 13th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | Alson S. Sherman | 1849–1851 | | Previously served in 3rd ward | | 14th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | J.L. James | 1851–1853 | | | | 15th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | J.L. James | 1851–1853 | | | | 16th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | William H. Scoville | 1853–1855 | | | | 17th | | | John Charles Haines | 1848–1854 | | | |
| | | William H. Scoville | 1853–1855 | | | | 18th | | | Jasper D. Ward | 1854–1856 | | | |
| | | Charles N. Holden | 1855–1857 | | | | 19th | | | Jasper D. Ward | 1854–1856 | | | |
| | | Charles N. Holden | 1855–1857 | | | | 20th | | | Russell Green | 1856–1858 | | | |
| | | Artimas Carter | 1857–1859 | | | | 21st | | | Russell Green | 1856–1858 | | | |
| | | Artimas Carter | 1857–1859 | | | | 22nd | | | Jasper D. Ward | 1858–1860 | | | |
| | | L.B. Taft | 1959–1861 | | | | 23rd | | | Jasper D. Ward | 1858–1860 | | | |
| | | L.B. Taft | 1959–1861 | | | | 24th | | | Robert H. Foss | 1860–1862 | Republican | Previously served as alderman from the 4th ward (1847–1852; 1854-55); died in office | |
| | | Charles C. P. Holden | 1861–1863 | Republican | Redistricted to 10th ward in 1863 | | 25th | | | Robert H. Foss | 1860–1862 | Republican | Previously served as alderman from the 4th ward (1847–1852; 1854-55); died in office | |
| | | Charles C. P. Holden | 1861–1863 | Republican | Redistricted to 10th ward in 1863 | | 26th | | | William A. Groves | 1862–1863 | | | |
| | | Mark Sheridan | 1863–1866 | | | | 27th | | | Constantine Kann | 1863–1867 | | | |
| | | Mark Sheridan | 1863–1866 | | | | 28th | | | Constantine Kann | 1863–1867 | | | |
| | | Mark Sheridan | 1863–1866 | | | | 29th | | | Constantine Kann | 1863–1867 | | | |
| | | M. Finucan | 1866–1867 | | | | 30th | | | Constantine Kann | 1863–1867 | | | |
| | | M. Finucan | 1866–1867 | | | | 31st | | | John Raber | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | Mark Sheridan | 1868–1869 | | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1869 | | 32nd | | | John Raber | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | Mark Sheridan | 1868–1869 | | Redistricted to 6th ward in 1869 | | 33rd | | | John Raber | 1867–1869 | | | |
| | | Peter Daggy | 1869–1872 | | | | 34th | | | George S. Whitaker | 1869–1871 | | | |
| | | Peter Daggy | 1869–1872 | | | | 35th | | | George S. Whitaker | 1869–1871 | | | |
| | | Peter Daggy | 1869–1872 | | | | 36th | | | R. B. Stone | 1871–1876 | | | |
| | | Aquilla H. Pickering | 1872–1874 | | | | 37th | | | R. B. Stone | 1871–1876 | | | |
| | | Aquilla H. Pickering | 1872–1874 | | | | 38th | | | R. B. Stone | 1871–1876 | | | |
| | | Thomas C. Clarke | 1874–1876 | Republican | Later elected alderman again in 1884 in 4th ward | | 39th | | | R. B. Stone | 1871–1876 | | | |
| | | Fred Sommer | 1876–1878 | | Redistricted from 6th ward | | 40th | | | Mark Sheridan | 1876–1877 | | Previously served in 6th and 5th wards | |
| | | Fred Sommer | 1876–1878 | | Redistricted from 6th ward | | 41st | | | John D. Tully | 1877–1879 | | | |
| | | George Turner | 1878–1880 | | | | 42nd | | | John D. Tully | 1877–1879 | | | |
| | | George Turner | 1878–1880 | | | | 43rd | | | Michael McAuley | 1879–1881 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1880–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1888 in 6th ward | | 44th | | | Michael McAuley | 1879–1881 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1880–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1888 in 6th ward | | 45th | | | Henry F. Sheridan | 1881–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1880–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1888 in 6th ward | | 46th | | | Henry F. Sheridan | 1881–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1880–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1888 in 6th ward | | 47th | | | Henry F. Sheridan | 1881–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1880–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1888 in 6th ward | | 48th | | | Henry F. Sheridan | 1881–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Edward P. Burke | 1880–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1888 in 6th ward | | 49th | | | Henry F. Sheridan | 1881–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Charles Hillcock | 1886–1888 | Independent | | | 50th | | | Henry F. Sheridan | 1881–1887 | Democratic | | |
| | | Charles Hillcock | 1886–1888 | Independent | | | 51st | | | Edward D. Connor | 1887–1889 | | | |
| | | John S. Oehmen | 1888–1890 | | | | 52nd | | | Edward D. Connor | 1887–1889 | | | |
| | | John S. Oehmen | 1888–1890 | | | | 53rd | | | Timothy C. Hickey | 1889–1991 | | | |
| | | Charles Duer | 1890–1892 | | | | 54th | | | Timothy C. Hickey | 1889–1991 | | | |
| | | Charles Duer | 1890–1892 | | | | 55th | | | Patrick J. Wall | 1891–1895 | | | |
| | | John Voght | 1892–1894 | Republican | | | 56th | | | Patrick J. Wall | 1891–1895 | | | |
| | | John Voght | 1892–1894 | Republican | | | 57th | | | Patrick J. Wall | 1891–1895 | | | |
| | | David Deist | 1894–1896 | Democratic | | | 58th | | | Patrick J. Wall | 1891–1895 | | | |
| | | David Deist | 1894–1896 | Democratic | | | 59th | | | William J. Doerr | 1895–1897 | | | |
| | | William E. Kent | 1896–1898 | | | | 60th | | | William J. Doerr | 1895–1897 | | | |
| | | William E. Kent | 1896–1898 | | | | 61st | | | Frank X. Cloidt | 1897–1899 | | | |
| | | Edward D. Connor | 1898–1900 | | | | 62nd | | | Frank X. Cloidt | 1897–1899 | | | |
| | | Edward D. Connor | 1898–1900 | | | | 63rd | | | Michael M. Blake | 1899–1901 | | | |
| | | William E. Kent | 1900–1901 | | Redistricted to 4th ward in 1901 | | 64th | | | Michael M. Blake | 1899–1901 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1901–1902 | Democratic | Redistricted from 6th ward | | 65th | | | Edward Litzinger | 1901–1903 | | | |
| | | Robert K. Sloan | 1902–1904 | | | | 66th | | | Edward Litzinger | 1901–1903 | | | |
| | | Robert K. Sloan | 1902–1904 | | | | 67th | | | Thomas Rooney | 1903–1905 | | | |
| | | James J. McCormick | 1904–1908 | | Previously served in 6th ward | | 68th | | | Thomas Rooney | 1903–1905 | | | |
| | | James J. McCormick | 1904–1908 | | Previously served in 6th ward | | 69th | | | Charles Martin | 1905–1907 | Democratic | Previously served in 5th and 6th wards | |
| | | James J. McCormick | 1904–1908 | | Previously served in 6th ward | | 70th | | | Charles Martin | 1905–1907 | Democratic | Previously served in 5th and 6th wards | |
| | | James J. McCormick | 1904–1908 | | Previously served in 6th ward | | 71st | | | Alex J. Burke | 1907–1911 | | | |
| | | William J. McKenna | 1908–1910 | | | | 72nd | | | Alex J. Burke | 1907–1911 | | | |
| | | William J. McKenna | 1908–1910 | | | | 73rd | | | Alex J. Burke | 1907–1911 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1910–1914 | Democratic | Previously serve in 5th and 6th wards | | 74th | | | Alex J. Burke | 1907–1911 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1910–1914 | Democratic | Previously serve in 5th and 6th wards | | 75th | | | Patrick J. Carr | 1911–1914 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1910–1914 | Democratic | Previously serve in 5th and 6th wards | | 76th | | | Patrick J. Carr | 1911–1914 | | | |
| | | Charles Martin | 1910–1914 | Democratic | Previously serve in 5th and 6th wards | | 77th | | | Patrick J. Carr | 1911–1914 | | | |
| | | Thomas A. Doyle | 1914–1918 | Democratic | Later elected an alderman again in 1931 | | 78th | | | Patrick J. Carr | 1911–1914 | | | |
| | | Thomas A. Doyle | 1914–1918 | Democratic | Later elected an alderman again in 1931 | | 79th | | | Charles Martin | 1915–1917 | Democratic | Previously served in 5th and 6th wards | |
| | | Thomas A. Doyle | 1914–1918 | Democratic | Later elected an alderman again in 1931 | | 80th | | | Charles Martin | 1915–1917 | Democratic | Previously served in 5th and 6th wards | |
| | | Thomas A. Doyle | 1914–1918 | Democratic | Later elected an alderman again in 1931 | | 81st | | | Joseph B. McDonough | 1917–1923 | Democratic | Continued as alderman after 1923; redistricted to 13th ward | |
| | | Robert J. Mulcahy | 1918–1923 | | Democratic | | 82nd | | | Joseph B. McDonough | 1917–1923 | Democratic | Continued as alderman after 1923; redistricted to 13th ward | |
| | | Robert J. Mulcahy | 1918–1923 | | Democratic | | 83rd | | | Joseph B. McDonough | 1917–1923 | Democratic | Continued as alderman after 1923; redistricted to 13th ward | |
| | | Robert J. Mulcahy | 1918–1923 | | Democratic | | 84th | | | Joseph B. McDonough | 1917–1923 | Democratic | Continued as alderman after 1923; redistricted to 13th ward | |
| | | Robert J. Mulcahy | 1918–1923 | | Democratic | | 85th | | | Joseph B. McDonough | 1917–1923 | Democratic | Continued as alderman after 1923; redistricted to 13th ward | |
| | | Robert J. Mulcahy | 1918–1923 | | Democratic | | 86th | | | Joseph B. McDonough | 1917–1923 | Democratic | Continued as alderman after 1923; redistricted to 13th 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 |
| Charles S. Eaton | 1923–1927 | Republican | redistricted from 6th ward in 1923; served again beginning in 1929 |
| Leonard J. Grossman | 1927–1929 | | |
| Charles S. Eaton | 1929–1931 | Republican | previously served in 5th and 6th wards |
| Irving J. Schreiber | 1931–1933 | | |
| James J. Cusack Jr. | 1933–1937 | Democratic | |
| Paul Douglas | 1939–1942 | Democratic | Resigned to join the United States Armed Forces |
| Bertram B. Moss | 1943–1947 | | |
| Robert E. Merriam | 1947–1955 | Republican | |
| Leon Despres | 1955–1975 | Democratic | |
| Ross Lathrop | 1975–79 | Independent | |
| Lawrence Bloom | 1979–1995 | Independent Democrat | |
| Barbara Holt | 1995–1999 | | |
| Leslie Hairston | 1995–2023 | Democratic | |
| Desmon Yancy | 2023–present | Democratic | |