As Chicago prepares for its fourth annual snowplow naming contest, public records show that “Abolish ICE” is the most popular submission, accounting for over 9,200 of more than 13,300 entries on Chicagoshovels.org. This represents about 70 percent of all suggestions. The name also received support from Mayor Brandon Johnson last month.
In addition to “Abolish ICE,” other submissions with anti-ICE themes—such as “ICE Breaker,” “ICE Be Gone,” and “No More Mr. ICE Guy”—made up approximately 79 percent of the total entries.
The submission period ended on January 10. Residents will be able to vote for their favorite among the top 25 names selected by the city when voting opens from February 1 through February 14. Six winners will be chosen in total, and residents can participate in voting at this link when it becomes available.
Chicago culture was reflected in many entries, including references to local figures like Pope Leo XIV and nods to the Chicago Bears, with about 50 submissions each for names such as “Pope Frio XIV,” “Da Popemobile,” “Caleb Chilliams,” and “Da Cheese Grater.” The rivalry between the Bears and Green Bay Packers was also referenced.
Several submissions played on the city’s tradition of “dibs,” where people use objects to reserve parking spots after shoveling snow. Names like “Dibs Destroyer” were common.
Other creative entries included wordplays specific to Chicago, such as “Snowlort,” “Snoprah Wintry,” “Lower Wacker Ice Attacker,” and “Snowldier Field.”
Around 50 entries expressed criticism of Mayor Brandon Johnson, with suggestions like “Snowbody Likes Brandon.”
Previous winners of the contest include “Bozo the Plown” last year, “Skilling It” in honor of retired weatherman Tom Skilling in 2024, and “Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow” in 2023.
