Oswego Race: Kauffman Faces Thomas in April Vote

Former Oswego village trustee Brian Thomas has filed to challenge incumbent President Ryan Kauffman in the April 6 election. The filing confirms that Kauffman will face at least one opponent in his bid to retain the office.

Thomas, a Republican, and Kauffman, a Democrat, are the only candidates who filed petitions for their respective parties between October 19 and October 26. Because only one candidate from each party qualified, Oswego will skip the February 23 primary for the village presidency.

Kauffman currently holds the seat after winning the April 2023 election. He previously served on the Village Board from 2015 to 2019. Thomas previously ran for the position in February 2023, losing the Republican primary to Troy Parlier, who was the sitting president at the time.

The race involves three four-year village trustee positions. Incumbent trustees Karin McCarthy-Lange and Andrew Torres, both Democrats, have also filed petitions to run. Outgoing state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, a Democrat from Oswego, is seeking a trustee seat after losing her bid for Illinois comptroller in March.

Independent candidates and those from new parties still have a window to enter the race. Petitions for these affiliations must be filed at the village between November 16 and November 23. The consolidated election will take place on April 6.