Did you know you can name Chicago’s snowplows?

Chicago’s annual weather weirdness isn’t just about scraping windshields and digging out driveways anymore. Now, it’s about democracy, civic creativity and political slogans plastered on municipal vehicles. The City of Chicago has announced the 25 finalists for its fourth annual “You Name a Snowplow” contest, and the list reads like a Rorschach test for where Chicagoans are a month into 2026.

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Every year, the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation invites residents to submit playful, pun-laden names for its fleet of snowplows, then lets Chicagoans vote on their favorites. For the fourth annual installment, more than 13,300 submissions poured in, and the top choices range from the silly to the provocative.

Leading off the ballot is “Abolish ICE,” which appeared in some variation on thousands of entries, a timely and temporally appropriate suggestion. The other possibilities are a fascinating blend of pop-culture callbacks and local references. “Caleb Chilliams,” a pun on the Chicago Bears quarterback’s name, nods to the city’s football fandom, while “Cheryl Scott Warned You About This” winks at a local TV meteorologist’s on-air weather alerts. Other favorites include “Chance the Scraper,” “Plowasaurus Sue” and “This isn’t Florida,” the latter inevitably resonating with anyone who’s ever compared Lake Michigan snow to a tropical storm (minus the warmth). 

Voting is open now through February 14 at chicagoshovels.org, and Chicagoans can cast ballots for up to six names. Once the votes are tallied, six winners will be chosen and their names will be officially affixed to plows when they patrol streets this winter. The contest has become something of a Chicago tradition, a light-hearted way to engage residents with city services and bring some levity to the long, cold months. Past winners like "Bozo the Plown," “CTRL-SALT-DELETE,” “Ernie Snowbanks” and “Mies van der Snow” have become local legends in their own right. 

Yet this year’s crop of entries reflects more than just humor. With “Abolish ICE” at the top of the ballot, the contest has also become a barometer of civic sentiment, proving once again that in Chicago, even a snowplow-naming contest can spark headlines.