Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth

Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (born 1969) is an American politician and small business owner. She is the alderman for the 48th ward in the Chicago City Council, having won the 2023 election for the office. The 48th ward includes most of the Edgewater neighborhood and parts of the Uptown neighborhood.

Early life and career Manaa-Hoppenworth is the daughter of Filipino immigrants. She graduated from Chicago Academy for the Arts and later earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago. She is the owner of a dance supply store and is a freelance professional photographer. She has also worked as a dance instructor, physical therapist, and account representative for the Chicago Reader. She also founded and led Indivisible Illinois 9th District Andersonville-Edgewater, a local chapter of the organization. Manaa-Hoppenworth announced her candidacy for the seat in August, joining what would become a ten-candidate field. In the first round election on February 28, 2023, she placed second and advanced to a runoff election against Joe Dunne. During the runoff campaign, she endorsed and was endorsed by mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson. She won the runoff election on April 4, despite Dunne having a fundraising advantage and the endorsement of Osterman. She is the first Filipino American member of City Council and is one of two Asian Americans elected in the 2023 election (alongside Nicole Lee).

Chicago City Council (2023–present) Manaa-Hoppenworth has said she will join the Progressive Caucus on City Council, and that her initial priorities include "approving ranked-choice voting, homelessness prevention effort Bring Chicago Home and the emergency mental health initiative Treatment Not Trauma."

Electoral history