South, West Side officials back Pat Hynes for Cook County assessor over Fritz Kaegi

Black elected officials and pastors cite anger over higher home assessments in their communities under Kaegi's tenure

Feb. 5, 2026 at 4:07pm

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A group of Black elected officials and pastors, including former Congressman Bobby Rush, backed Pat Hynes' bid for Cook County assessor on Thursday. They highlighted anger over home assessments that skyrocketed on Chicago's South and West sides under Assessor Fritz Kaegi. Several aldermen felt betrayed by Kaegi after their neighborhoods saw massive hikes to assessments and property tax bills last year, triggering fears that homeowners would lose their properties.

Why it matters

The assessment increases were a 'breaking point' for many elected officials, who say Kaegi's policies have disproportionately impacted Black and Latino communities in Chicago. This endorsement of Hynes by prominent South and West Side leaders signals a major political shift in the race for Cook County assessor.

The details

Median bills for Chicago homeowners jumped by a record 16.7% last year, fueled by a drop in big commercial building values and sharp increases to sales prices in neighborhoods like Englewood, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale. Kaegi has said these tax increases are due to the enormous tax cuts given out to big corporations and commercial properties in the Loop, which shifted the burden onto homeowners. However, Kaegi's attempts to keep commercial assessments higher have been stymied by successful appeals at the county's Board of Review.

  • In 2018, former Congressman Bobby Rush endorsed Kaegi over then-Cook County Democratic Party chair and incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios.
  • On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Rush joined several aldermen in backing Hynes' bid for Cook County assessor.

The players

Pat Hynes

A former field inspector in the Assessor's office who has highlighted his efforts to correct Kaegi's failures to capture new construction as a township Assessor in Lyons.

Fritz Kaegi

The current Cook County assessor whose attempts to keep commercial assessments higher have been stymied by successful appeals at the county's Board of Review.

Bobby Rush

A former Congressman who previously endorsed Kaegi over then-Cook County Democratic Party chair and incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios, but has now joined several aldermen in backing Hynes.

Stephanie Coleman

A South Side alderman who joined Hynes at the news conference.

David Moore

A South Side alderman who joined Hynes at the news conference.

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What they’re saying

“He's not our friend anymore. He's disappointed us now for two terms. We've seen our property taxes go up and up and up. It seems like this guy believes that the sky's the limit.”

— Bobby Rush, Former Congressman (Chicago Tribune)

“These tax increases are real, they aren't fair, and they're disproportionately hitting Black communities, so I share the frustration folks are voicing. That's why I've been sounding the alarm on the root cause of these increases, and that's the enormous tax cuts given out to big corporations and commercial properties in the Loop. I'm committed to making these companies pay their fair share, I'm working every day to get more tax relief to the families who need it, and it's my hope that these are reforms we can all unite behind.”

— Fritz Kaegi, Cook County Assessor (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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