Two Candidates Face Off in Oswego's April Presidential Race

Oswego village president Ryan Kauffman has one confirmed opponent for his reelection bid.

Former village trustee Brian Thomas filed his petition on October 19 to run as a Republican in the April 6 consolidated election. Kauffman, a Democrat, first won the presidency in April 2023 after serving on the Village Board from 2015 to 2019. Because Oswego holds partisan elections, candidates must align with a party to appear on the ballot.

Thomas previously sought the presidency in February 2023 but lost the Republican primary to then-village president Troy Parlier. Parlier then lost to Kauffman in the general election that April. With only one Republican and one Democrat filing for the presidency, the village will skip the February 23 primary election.

Other local officeholders also filed their intentions to run. Incumbent village trustees Karin McCarthy-Lange and Andrew Torres, both Democrats, submitted their petitions. Outgoing state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, a Democrat from Oswego, also filed. Kifowit lost the Democratic primary for Illinois comptroller in March and is not seeking to return to the state legislature.

Three four-year village trustee positions are open on the board. Independent and new party candidates have until November 23 to file their petitions for the April election.