Age: 51
Occupation: Cook County commissioner for the 10th District

Gainer’s name was bruited about as a mayoral contender the last time around, and while a run never materialized, she kept on pushing the throttle at the job she’s had since 2009, advancing the work of her signature creation, the Cook County Land Bank Authority, which has helped convert more than 500 vacant properties into affordable housing, and winning $500,000 in funding to improve conditions for women at Cook County Jail. She also recently launched the Chicago chapter of Off the Sidelines, which encourages young women’s political activism.