Not every city in the United States elects city council members. Some municipalities elect aldermen, also sometimes called alderpersons or alderwomen. This is true for communities ranging from small towns to major metro hubs like Chicago, Illinois.
This guide is for anyone looking to learn more about their local board, understand where alderpersons are elected, or even run for alderman in their community.
What Is an Alderman?
The specific responsibilities of an alderman can vary by jurisdiction. In the broadest sense, an alderman sits on a municipal council, which is responsible for making laws and passing ordinances for a city or municipality. The role is similar to that of a city or town council.
Better-known U.S. cities with aldermanic positions include Chicago, Illinois, New Haven, Connecticut, and St. Louis, Missouri.
New York City used to elect aldermen, but later adopted the titles of councilman and councilwoman.
Meanwhile, use of the inclusive term "alderperson" is growing throughout the country. For example, the city of West Allis, Wisconsin elects 10 alderpersons to its Common Council.
What Cities and States Elect Aldermen?
Only certain American states and cities elect aldermen or alderpersons. The following states elect alderpersons at the local level:
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Wisconsin
Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, and other states also sometimes use the language of aldermen or alderpersons. In other states, similar local positions are often called city or town council members.
Here are a few of the most notable cities that elect alderpersons:
Chicago Alderman Requirements and Ward Structure
Aldermen in Chicago are elected across 50 political divisions known as wards. A ward is a specific area within the city that receives political representation.
The Chicago City Council deals with matters of public finance, real estate acquisition and disposal, land use, and traffic management, among other matters. The council has 19 standing committees that work with different departments.
The main qualifications for Chicago aldermen are:
- Continuous residence in the ward of representation for at least one year
- Being current on all tax obligations and other public debt payments
- Having no felony convictions on a criminal record
Chicago holds aldermanic elections on a four-year cycle, with the most recent held in 2023.
If you’re thinking about running for alderman in Chicago, be aware that campaign costs can run high. The organization Reform for Illinois reported that in the city’s 2023 municipal elections, the biggest fundraiser was the 46th Ward’s incumbent Alderperson Gilbert “Gil” Villegas, who raised over $792,000. His opponent, who lost the election, raised over $308,000.
Super PACs heavily influenced the 2023 aldermanic election. For example, the super PACs Get Stuff Done PAC, Illinois REALTORS Fund, and Working Families for Chicago spent a collective amount above $189,000 to support the 11th Ward candidate Nicole Lee.
LEARN MORE: Learn how to fundraise for a political campaign without relying on super PACs or corporations.
New Haven, Connecticut Board of Alders
The local legislative body for New Haven, Connecticut, is known as the Board of Alders. One alderperson serves each of New Haven’s 30 wards. The board elects a President and President Pro Tempore to preside over the legislative body.
The Board of Alders meets twice a month to amend the city charter and municipal code, debate and pass ordinances on public safety and public works, and make rules relative to zoning and education.
In New Haven, aldermen serve four-year terms in local government. In order to run for alderman, a candidate must live in the ward where they intend to run and have reached the age of majority.
Thinking of running for alderman in New Haven?
Take note that unlike in some jurisdictions, New Haven’s Board of Alders elects representatives on a partisan basis.
In 2025, all 30 seats on the council were won by Democratic candidates. The majority, 24 seats, went unopposed, meaning there was only one candidate on the ballot.
Independent candidates have begun taking the opportunity to oppose Democratic candidates, giving voters more choices at the ballot box.
Here’s how another alderman, Joseph Faulkner from Fayetteville, Tennessee, described the impact of partisan local elections:
Our county elections changed over to partisan elections. I hate it. At a local level, there's no partisanship to that. It doesn't make sense to me. As an independent who has viewpoints from all over the spectrum on different issues, I think it's important to keep that independence.
Partisanship doesn't have anything to do with repaving streets or filling potholes or making sure our animal shelter runs correctly. It was hard when people would ask, ‘Are you Republican? Are you a Democrat?’ I just said: ‘I'm an independent and I'm going to represent everyone.’
Thinking about running for office?
Learn how with our free guide to serving your community.
St. Louis, Missouri Board of Aldermen
In St. Louis, Missouri, aldermen are elected across 14 wards. The Board of Aldermen has four officers: the President, Vice President, Majority Floor Leader, and Assistant Floor Leader. The board has 11 committees, ranging from the Budget and Public Employees Committee to the Poet Laureate Task Force.
The aldermen's responsibilities in local government include awarding city contracts, overseeing traffic control and safety, establishing and amending health and fire codes, and providing community leadership throughout the city.
To run for alderman in St. Louis, a candidate must:
- Be a registered voter
- Be at least 25 years old
- Have been a U.S. citizen for at least five years
- Have been a resident of St. Louis for at least three years
- Have been a resident of their particular ward for at least one year
Aldermen in St. Louis receive a salary of about $72,000.
How to Run for Alderman and Meet Local Requirements
Want to run for alderman or alderperson? Start with these steps:
- Meet the Correct Qualifications: Eligibility standards to run for alderman differ by locality. Common requirements include minimum age, residency, and a clean criminal record. Keep in mind that if your board of aldermen is divided into wards, you’ll need to live in the ward you hope to represent.
- Plan a Grassroots Campaign: Before making your run for office official, make sure you have the resources, support, and strategy in place to reach the finish line. In most communities, you don’t need a massive fundraising effort to win. Instead, you need accurate data, voter outreach tools, and a team to help make it all happen.
- File for Office: Follow the appropriate steps to officially file for office. Check your local government website or city clerk’s office for specific requirements and deadlines.
From there, the campaign process is the same as for any local council race: announcing your candidacy, building visibility both in-person and online, and reaching voters in as many ways as possible.
LEARN MORE: Learn how Kimberly Haase won her race for alderwoman and beat a 28-year incumbent.
Read Faulkner’s advice for independents thinking about running for alderman:
Be involved. Be in the community. Do things that support the community. Also, you've got to understand where people are coming from with partisan affiliations, what decisions they've made to get there, before you can get your message across.
As an independent, you're trying to appeal to everybody and a vast amount of different ideas. It's more of a burden on an independent than on any partisan candidate. Understanding where people come from at a very local level is really important.
At the same time, Faulkner said, “The good thing about being an independent is you're not shackled by different notions of what a specific party would do.”
If you’re running for alderman as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, GoodParty.org is here to help. Our campaign toolkit includes a personalized campaign plan, voter data, texting and outreach tools, and more.
You don’t need to rely on political parties or super PACs to run for alderman and win. You just need the right support in your corner.
Explore free and affordable campaign tools for aldermanic candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
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