Lead: On Feb. 24, 2026, Chicago voters selected the political slogan “Abolish ICE” as the winner of the city’s annual You Name a Snowplow contest, a decision announced after roughly 13,300 public submissions and nearly 40,000 votes. The name will be painted on one of the city’s powder-blue snowplow trucks and could appear on Chicago streets during the next significant snowfall. City officials said the winner emerged from a field of 25 finalists; the result drew both local attention and national commentary. The contest, now in its fourth year, was first launched in 2023.
- More than 13,300 name proposals were submitted this year; a public vote among 25 finalists attracted nearly 40,000 ballots.
- Winning name: “Abolish ICE” finished first and will be applied to a city snowplow that operates within one of six designated snow districts.
- Runners-up: “Stephen Coldbert” placed second; “Pope Frío XIV” finished third among voter selections.
- Fleet size: Chicago maintains a fleet of more than 300 snow-removal trucks and stores over 400,000 tons of road salt at city facilities.
- Origins: The naming contest began in 2023 under then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot and has mixed civic humor with local history in prior years.
- City response: The Department of Streets and Sanitation described the contest as a showcase of resident creativity and urged questions to the mayor’s office.
Background
The You Name a Snowplow contest started in 2023 as a lighthearted public-engagement initiative tied to the Department of Streets and Sanitation’s winter preparedness program. In previous editions, winners ranged from architecture-themed puns like “Mies van der Snow” to historical nods such as “Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow.” The contest has been a way for Chicago officials to involve residents in a mundane municipal function while highlighting the city’s winter operations and the workers who keep roads passable.
Over the years the competition developed a small tradition of viral, tongue-in-cheek submissions and local inside jokes that reflect Chicago’s culture and history. City officials emphasize operational neutrality: naming does not change a vehicle’s duties or deployment. Still, when a chosen name touches on a politically charged topic, it can prompt broader discussion about civic expression and the public role of municipal property.
Main Event
This year, voters elevated a politically explicit entry—”Abolish ICE”—to first place, a choice announced by city officials on Feb. 24, 2026 and posted with contest results. More than 13,300 names were proposed by residents; the city winnowed those to 25 finalists and let the public vote, with nearly 40,000 total votes cast. The streets department said the winning name will be applied to one truck and made visible within its assigned snow district when the vehicle is deployed.
Ryan Gage, a spokesman for the Department of Streets and Sanitation, directed questions about the entry to the mayor’s office and described the contest as an opportunity to spotlight civic imagination and the work of city crews. The city plans a small unveiling event at a salt dome where winners will receive city-themed swag and poses with the named plow; the names of the individuals who submitted the six winners have not been released.
The selection contrasts with earlier contests that leaned on Chicago trivia, pop-culture references and local history. This year’s voting came as current Mayor Brandon Johnson—who has publicly said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be abolished—expressed appreciation for record participation. Officials stressed that the contest process was purely participatory and did not represent a policy endorsement beyond operating the snowplow fleet.
Analysis & Implications
The choice of a politically charged name marks a shift in how a municipal PR exercise can intersect with national debates. Small civic gestures, like naming a vehicle, can amplify messages when a contest draws tens of thousands of voters and media attention beyond the city. For supporters of the phrase, the selection signals grassroots expression and an instance of local democratic participation in a symbolic forum.
For opponents, the outcome raises questions about the use of municipal property for messages that some residents find divisive. Legal experts note that municipalities generally retain broad discretion over noncommercial speech on government property, but controversies can prompt internal policy reviews or legislative responses. City officials must balance free-expression principles with expectations of neutrality for essential public services.
Operationally, the effect on snow removal will be nil: the named truck will continue to perform the same routes and tasks within Chicago’s six snow districts. But politically, the result could influence future contests—officials may adjust nomination or vetting rules, or residents may increasingly submit entries with advocacy aims. The episode also underscores how local rituals can become focal points in larger cultural arguments during election cycles.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Submitted names | >13,300 |
| Public votes | ~39,800 (nearly 40,000) |
| Finalists | 25 |
| Snow-removal trucks | >300 |
| Road salt in storage | >400,000 tons |
| Contest inception | 2023 |
The numbers show a high level of public engagement relative to the contest’s short history: nearly 40,000 votes represent broad participation for a municipal naming exercise. The fleet and salt-storage figures underscore the logistical scale behind what is often portrayed as a light civic tradition. Comparing this year to prior contests, the mix of political and cultural entries appears more pronounced, likely reflecting heightened civic polarization nationally.
Reactions & Quotes
City leadership framed the result as an expression of civic participation while stopping short of endorsing any policy beyond winter operations. Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a brief statement thanking residents and noting record turnout.
“We are grateful and inspired by the record-breaking participation in the contest this year.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson
The mayor’s comment followed his earlier public position that Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be abolished; he did not link that policy stance directly to the naming decision. Officials emphasize that the streets department’s role is operational—clearing roads and managing fleets—rather than political advocacy.
The department’s spokesman framed the contest as a showcase of local creativity and civic pride.
“The contest is a great opportunity to showcase the unmatched creativity and civic pride from Chicagoans.”
Ryan Gage, Department of Streets and Sanitation
Some residents and observers argued the contest should remain apolitical; others said the outcome reflected a legitimate exercise of public voice. The city has not announced changes to contest rules or vetting procedures as of the Feb. 24, 2026 announcement.
Unconfirmed
- Identities of the individuals who submitted the winning entries have not been publicly released by the city and remain unconfirmed.
- Whether the contest will prompt formal changes to naming rules or vetting procedures has not been confirmed by city officials as of the announcement.
Bottom Line
Chicago’s 2026 snowplow-naming contest turned a routine civic exercise into a flashpoint for national conversation by elevating a politically charged slogan through popular vote. The immediate operational impact is nil—the named truck will continue to plow and salt its assigned routes—but the symbolic effect is significant, drawing attention to how municipal traditions intersect with public debate.
City officials will likely monitor reactions and consider whether adjustments to contest mechanics are needed to balance free-expression aims with expectations of municipal neutrality. For residents and observers, the episode is a reminder that even small civic gestures can swiftly gain outsized attention in a polarized media environment.
Sources
- The New York Times — news report on contest results and city statements.
- City of Chicago, Department of Streets and Sanitation — official municipal information on winter operations.