OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
6:10 PM – Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Tiffany Henyard, the embattled former mayor of Dolton, Illinois, whose tenure was defined by federal investigations and allegations of ongoing fraud and lavish taxpayer spending, has officially filed to run for office in Georgia.
In a notable political pivot, Henyard has also formally changed her party affiliation, submitting her candidacy as a Republican for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
According to data from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, Henyard qualified this week to run in the May 19, 2026, general primary election for the District 5 seat. This district represents a significant portion of metro Atlanta, an area Henyard has recently called home after her landslide defeat in Illinois last year.
Henyard, who previously branded herself a “Super Mayor” and was a staunch Democrat during her time in Cook County, Illinois, is now the sole Republican candidate vying for the District 5 seat. Her filing lists her occupation as a “business owner.”
The transition to the Republican ticket marks a sharp departure for Henyard, who previously compared herself to Rosa Parks and even Jesus Christ himself during her final months in Illinois.
Despite the change in scenery and party, Henyard’s past continues to trail her. Her time as mayor of Dolton and supervisor of Thornton Township remains under heavy scrutiny:
Federal Investigation
Agents have served a series of grand jury subpoenas to the Village of Dolton and Thornton Township, specifically targeting records related to Henyard’s “First Ladies” charity, taxpayer-funded trips to Las Vegas, and several village vendors.
While no formal charges have been filed as of early 2026, the investigation is focused on public corruption, mail fraud and the potential misuse of federal pandemic relief funds.
Financial Insolvency
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, acting as a special investigator, had delivered a report in late 2024 confirming that Dolton’s financial health was in “total collapse.”
The surplus vanished due to unauthorized spending and a lack of budget oversight, according to Lightfoot, leaving the village with millions in unpaid bills to vendors and a credit rating that made further municipal borrowing nearly impossible.
Lavish Spending
Documented credit card statements revealed that Henyard and her inner circle spent tens of thousands of dollars on luxury travel, including first-class flights and stays at the Encore in Las Vegas, designer clothing, and fine dining.
Most controversially, she utilized a private security detail composed of village police officers working overtime, which cost taxpayers over $1 million in a single year, despite Dolton being a small community with significant infrastructure needs.
“There was a concerted, systematic effort… to hide the true financial condition of the Village of Dolton,” stated Lori Lightfoot during her 2024 investigative report.
Fulton County District 5 is currently an open seat, as Democrat incumbent Marvin Arrington Jr. is vacating the position to run for chairman of the Commission.
Meanwhile, Henyard enters a field that includes four other Democrat contenders.
- Dejia Felicity Swindell: A marketing strategist and a fresh face in the political arena compared to the other contenders. Swindell represents a younger, professional demographic. Her campaign generally focuses on modernizing county communications and using her background in strategy to improve how the Board of Commissioners interacts with residents.
- Helen Zenobia Willis: A seasoned politician and the most high-profile name in the Democrat primary. Willis has served on the South Fulton City Council since 2017. Her record focuses heavily on public safety, financial transparency, a sharp contrast to Henyard’s history, and community infrastructure. She also has a professional background in accounting and government labor departments. Given her current role in South Fulton, she already represents a large portion of the voters in this district.
- J. Jazz Thomas-Jones: A multi-hyphenate candidate who works as a minister, podcaster, and freelance journalist. Thomas-Jones’s campaign leans into community advocacy and “grassroots” engagement. As a minister and media personality, she brings a communicative presence to the race, often focusing on social justice and spiritual community support.
- Sojourner M. Grimmett: A veteran public servant and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience in government, healthcare, and education. Grimmett is the daughter of the late renowned historian Manning Marable. She is running on a “results-driven” agenda, highlighting her work in securing COVID-19 relief funds and expanding affordable housing for seniors. She also previously ran for the District 6 seat in 2019, giving her prior campaign experience in the county.
Since Henyard is the only Republican on the ballot for this seat, she is expected to coast through the May primary to the general election. However, winning in deep-blue Fulton County as a Republican — while carrying the weight of multiple ongoing civil and federal inquiries — will be an uphill battle.
Henyard is currently a defendant in several civil lawsuits, including allegations of wrongful termination and retaliation.
In early 2025, she was also accused by a resident of being involved in a physical brawl during a board meeting. No criminal charges have been filed in the federal probe as of March 2026, though the investigation is reportedly active.
As Henyard begins her “comeback” campaign in the South, voters in Georgia will decide whether her “Super Mayor style” is a fresh start for Fulton County or a cautionary tale from the Midwest.
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