(Above) Tommy Hanson holds up a receipt showing his nomination papers officially received by the Illinois State Board of Elections on October 27.

By Steven Dahlman

Nov. 28, 2025 – A River North resident is officially on his fifth attempt to unseat Illinois 5th District Congressman Mike Quigley.

Tommy Hanson filed his nomination papers with the Illinois State Board of Elections on October 27. He will compete against two other Republicans, Dr. Kimball Ladien and Barry Wicker, in the March 17 General Primary.

Quigley faces four Democratic challengers – Jonny Bishop, Matthew Conroy, Ellen Corley, and Anthony Tamez. (Left) Quigley at a candidate forum in Elmhurst on January 30, 2020, that was organized by The League of Women Voters of Elmhurst.

Hanson, a condominium unit owner and commercial real estate broker, has repeatedly emphasized rising crime and economic issues, arguing that declining real estate prices and high taxes have contributed to residents leaving Chicago.

Hanson calls himself a “MAGA Republican” and has made remarks on immigration enforcement, highlighting the importance of obeying law officers. He recently weighed in on the arrest on November 5 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of a Chicago preschool teacher, Diana Santillana Galeano, who later was released from custody.

“This lady does not sound like the ‘worst of the worst,’” said Hanson, though saying Galeano should not have fled a traffic stop, as the Department of Homeland Security has claimed, by federal immigration agents of a vehicle in which she was a passenger. (Right) Booking photo of Diana Santillana Galeano provided by Department of Homeland Security.

“ICE was after the driver who was on their radar/data as a criminal,” said Hanson. “She fled, which made her appear to ICE that she was/is an accomplice. You see, everyone in America must respect and obey law enforcement. Running away from a cop and/or ICE is not a good thing. It leads to probable cause. That was her mistake, not ICE.”

The fifth congressional district extends as far south as East Grand Avenue, from the east side of State Street to the west side of Michigan Avenue. Northward, it expands into Streeterville and Gold Coast, reaching as far north as Old McHenry Road & North Midlothian Road in Lake County.

Each time Hanson runs, he gets a bigger percentage of the vote, starting with 23.3 percent of votes cast in 2018 and most recently, in 2024, receiving 112,931 votes or 31.0 percent of votes cast.

Hanson ran in 2008 against Rahm Emanuel, who won but later resigned to become White House Chief of Staff and was replaced by Quigley in a special election.