Willie Wilson ran for mayor in 2015 and 2019; traveled the country as part of a long-shot campaign for president in 2016, where he appeared on the ballot in a handful of states; and challenged U.S. Senator Dick Durbin in 2020. Originally from Louisiana, Wilson ran away from home with just an elementary education and moved to Chicago, where he owned several McDonald’s franchises and started a medical supplies company. He is known for Singsation, a gospel program, and for giving away cash and checks to Chicagoans to help them buy gas, groceries or pay their property taxes.
Age: 74
Born: Gilbert, Louisiana
Personal: Married to Janette Wilson
Education: Dropped out of grade school
Neighborhood: Downtown
Current job: Founder and CEO of Omar Medical Supplies
Government experience: None
Political experience: Wilson finished a distant third in the 2015 mayor’s race and fourth in 2019.
Campaign slogan: “Let’s rebuild Chicago together”
Campaign website: electwilliewilson.com
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