# 8th ward, Chicago

The 8th 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.

## Past alders

The current alderperson for the 8th ward is Michelle A. Harris, who has represented the ward since 2006.

### 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 |
| | | James Lane | 1847–1849 | | | | 11th | | | William B. Snowhook | 1847–1848 | | | |
| | | James Lane | 1847–1849 | | | | 12th | | | William B. Herrick | 1848–1850 | | | |
| | | Henry R. Payson | 1849–1850 | | | | 13th | | | William B. Herrick | 1848–1850 | | | |
| | | John C. Dodge | 1850–1852 | | | | 14th | | | George F. Foster | 1850–1851 | | Previously served in 6th ward | |
| | | John C. Dodge | 1850–1852 | | | | 15th | | | Robert Malcolm | 1851–1853 | | | |
| | | Andrew J. Brown | 1852–1854 | | | | 16th | | | Robert Malcolm | 1851–1853 | | | |
| | | Andrew J. Brown | 1852–1854 | | | | 17th | | | Francis Hoffmann | 1853–1854 | Democratic | | |
| | | William H. Stickney | 1854–1855 | | | | 18th | | | Francis Hoffmann | 1853–1854 | Democratic | | |
| | | William H. Stickney | 1854–1855 | | | | 18th | | | B.W. Thomas | 1854–1855 | | | |
| | | Samuel Ashton | 1855–1856 | | | | 19th | | | Stephen D. LaRue | 1855–1858 | | | |
| | | Conrad L. Niehoff | 1856–1857 | | | | 20th | | | Stephen D. LaRue | 1855–1858 | | | |
| | | Christian Wahl | 1857–1861 | | | | 21st | | | Stephen D. LaRue | 1855–1858 | | | |
| | | Christian Wahl | 1857–1861 | | | | 22nd | | | Andrew Wright | 1858–1860 | | | |
| | | Christian Wahl | 1857–1861 | | | | 23rd | | | Andrew Wright | 1858–1860 | | | |
| | | Christian Wahl | 1857–1861 | | | | 24th | | | Redmond Prindiville | 1860–1862 | | | |
| | | W.G. White | 1861–1862 | | | | 25th | | | Redmond Prindiville | 1860–1862 | | | |
| | | Charles L. Woodman | 1862–1863 | | Redistricted to 16th ward in 1863 | | 26th | | | Redmond Sheridan | 1863 | | Redistricted from 10th ward | |
| | | Charles L. Woodman | 1862–1863 | | Redistricted to 16th ward in 1863 | | 26th | | | Francis J. Ullbrich | 1863–1864 | | Redistricted from 10th ward | |
| | | Richard Clark | 1863–1865 | | | | 27th | | | Francis J. Ullbrich | 1863–1864 | | Redistricted from 10th ward | |
| | | Richard Clark | 1863–1865 | | | | 28th | | | Patrick Rafferty | 1864–1869 | | | |
| | | M.L. Frisbee | 1865–1867 | | | | 29th | | | Patrick Rafferty | 1864–1869 | | | |
| | | M.L. Frisbee | 1865–1867 | | | | 30th | | | Patrick Rafferty | 1864–1869 | | | |
| | | John Comiskey | 1867–1869 | Democratic | Previously served in 10th and 7th wards; redistricted to 9th ward in 1869 | | 31st | | | Patrick Rafferty | 1864–1869 | | | |
| | | John Comiskey | 1867–1869 | Democratic | Previously served in 10th and 7th wards; redistricted to 9th ward in 1869 | | 32nd | | | Patrick Rafferty | 1864–1869 | | | |
| | | John Comiskey | 1867–1869 | Democratic | Previously served in 10th and 7th wards; redistricted to 9th ward in 1869 | | 33rd | | | Patrick Rafferty | 1864–1869 | | | |
| | | James H. Hildreth | 1869–1870 | Democratic | Redistricted from 7th ward | | 34th | | | William S. Powell | 1869–1871 | | | |
| | | Michael B. Bailey | 1870–1874 | | | | 35th | | | William S. Powell | 1869–1871 | | | |
| | | Michael B. Bailey | 1870–1874 | | | | 36th | | | Jeremiah Clowry | 1871–1873 | | | |
| | | Michael B. Bailey | 1870–1874 | | | | 37th | | | Jeremiah Clowry | 1871–1873 | | | |
| | | Michael B. Bailey | 1870–1874 | | | | 38th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1873–1876 | Democratic | Redistricted to 7th ward in 1876 | |
| | | Patrick C. McDonald | 1874–1875 | | | | 39th | | | James H. Hildreth | 1873–1876 | Democratic | Redistricted to 7th ward in 1876 | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 40th | | | James O'Brien | 1876–1877 | | Previously served in 9th ward | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 41st | | | Richard M. Oliver | 1877–1879 | | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 42nd | | | Richard M. Oliver | 1877–1879 | | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 43rd | | | Thomas Purcell | 1879–1885 | Democratic | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 44th | | | Thomas Purcell | 1879–1885 | Democratic | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 45th | | | Thomas Purcell | 1879–1885 | Democratic | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 46th | | | Thomas Purcell | 1879–1885 | Democratic | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 47th | | | Thomas Purcell | 1879–1885 | Democratic | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 48th | | | Thomas Purcell | 1879–1885 | Democratic | | |
| | | Frank Lawler | 1876–1886 | Democratic | Later elected alderman again in 1895 in 19th ward | | 49th | | | Redmond F. Sheridan | 1885–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted to 19th ward in 1888 | |
| | | Lawrence A. Yore | 1886–1888 | Republican | | | 50th | | | Redmond F. Sheridan | 1885–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted to 19th ward in 1888 | |
| | | Lawrence A. Yore | 1886–1888 | Republican | | | 51st | | | Redmond F. Sheridan | 1885–1888 | Democratic | Redistricted to 19th ward in 1888 | |
| | | Charles A. Monear | 1888–1889 | Independent Democrat | Redistricted from 6th ward | | 52nd | | | Joseph M. Weber | 1888–1889 | | Redistricted from 7th ward | |
| | | George F. Bunker | 1889–1891 | | | | 53rd | | | Frank J. Dvorak | 1889–1892 | | | |
| | | George F. Bunker | 1889–1891 | | | | 54th | | | Frank J. Dvorak | 1889–1892 | | | |
| | | Martin Morrison | 1891–1895 | | | | 55th | | | Frank J. Dvorak | 1889–1892 | | | |
| | | Martin Morrison | 1891–1895 | | | | 58th | | | William Loeffler | 1892–1894 | Democratic | | |
| | | Martin Morrison | 1891–1895 | | | | 57th | | | William Loeffler | 1892–1894 | Democratic | | |
| | | Martin Morrison | 1891–1895 | | | | 58th | | | Frank Slepicka | 1894–1896 | Democratic | | |
| | | John Bennett | 1895–1899 | | | | 59th | | | Frank Slepicka | 1894–1896 | Democratic | | |
| | | John Bennett | 1895–1899 | | | | 60th | | | Frank Meek | 1896–1898 | | | |
| | | John Bennett | 1895–1899 | | | | 61st | | | Frank Meek | 1896–1898 | | | |
| | | John Bennett | 1895–1899 | | | | 62nd | | | Edward J. Novak | 1898–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 10th ward in 1901 | |
| | | Michael S. Garry | 1899–1901 | | | | 63rd | | | Edward J. Novak | 1898–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 10th ward in 1901 | |
| | | Michael S. Garry | 1899–1901 | | | | 64th | | | Edward J. Novak | 1898–1901 | Democratic | Redistricted to 10th ward in 1901 | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1901–1906 | Republican | Redistricted from 33rd ward | | 65th | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1901–1906 | Republican | Redistricted from 33rd ward | | 66th | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1901–1906 | Republican | Redistricted from 33rd ward | | 67rd | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1901–1906 | Republican | Redistricted from 33rd ward | | 68th | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1901–1906 | Republican | Redistricted from 33rd ward | | 69th | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John S. Derpa | 1906–1908 | | | | 70th | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John S. Derpa | 1906–1908 | | | | 71st | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1908–1910 | Republican | | | 72nd | | | P. H. Moynihan | 1901–1909 | | | |
| | | John Hugh Jones | 1908–1910 | Republican | | | 73rd | | | John R. Emerson | 1909–1915 | Democratic | | |
| | | John S. Derpa | 1910–1912 | | | | 74th | | | John R. Emerson | 1909–1915 | Democratic | | |
| | | John S. Derpa | 1910–1912 | | | | 75th | | | John R. Emerson | 1909–1915 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ernest M. Cross | 1912–1917 | | Later elected alderman again in 1923 in 10th ward | | 76th | | | John R. Emerson | 1909–1915 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ernest M. Cross | 1912–1917 | | Later elected alderman again in 1923 in 10th ward | | 77th | | | John R. Emerson | 1909–1915 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ernest M. Cross | 1912–1917 | | Later elected alderman again in 1923 in 10th ward | | 78th | | | John R. Emerson | 1909–1915 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ernest M. Cross | 1912–1917 | | Later elected alderman again in 1923 in 10th ward | | 79th | | | John E. Tyden | 1915–1917 | Republican | | |
| | | Ernest M. Cross | 1912–1917 | | Later elected alderman again in 1923 in 10th ward | | 80th | | | John E. Tyden | 1915–1917 | Republican | | |
| | | Ross A. Woodhull | 1917–1923 | Democratic | | | 81st | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| | | Ross A. Woodhull | 1917–1923 | Democratic | | | 82nd | | | Martin S. Furman | 1918–1923 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ross A. Woodhull | 1917–1923 | Democratic | | | 83rd | | | Martin S. Furman | 1918–1923 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ross A. Woodhull | 1917–1923 | Democratic | | | 84th | | | Martin S. Furman | 1918–1923 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ross A. Woodhull | 1917–1923 | Democratic | | | 85th | | | Martin S. Furman | 1918–1923 | Democratic | | |
| | | Ross A. Woodhull | 1917–1923 | Democratic | | | 86th | | | Martin S. Furman | 1918–1923 | Democratic | | |

### 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 |
| William D. Meyering | 1923–1930 | Democratic | |
| David L. Sutton | | Democratic | |
| Michael F. Mulcahy | | | |
| Roy E. Olin | | | |
| Einar Johnson | | | |
| James A. Condon | | | |
| William Cousins | 1967–1976 | Democratic | |
| Marian Humes | | | |
| Keith Caldwell | | | |
| Lorraine Dixon | | | Died in office |
| Todd Stroger | 2001–2006 | Democratic | Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley. Subsequently won election. Resigned in order to assume office as president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners |
| Michelle A. Harris | 2006–present | Democratic | Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley, subsequently has won election to several terms |