Mayoral field swells to 11 with Lightfoot, Garcia, other late filers — but now battle begins to cut that number down

U.S. Rep Jesus “Chuy” Garcia looks to see the height of his stack of nominating petitions at the Board of Election Commissioners’ Supersite, Monday afternoon. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

The two political heavyweights in the race for Chicago mayor — incumbent Lori Lightfoot and U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia — filed their nominating petitions on Monday, setting the stage for a bruising battle and, more immediately, petition challenges that could narrow the field. 

In addition to Garcia, Lightfoot picked up three more challengers — one the son of a former mayor.