Leslie Hairston (born July 17, 1961) is an American politician who previously served as alderperson of the 5th ward of the City of Chicago from her first election in 1999 until retiring in 2023.

Hairston was born in Chicago and grew up in the Hyde Park and South Shore neighborhoods.

She sits on five committees: Buildings; Rules and Ethics; Human Relations; Parks and Recreation; and Special Events and Cultural Affairs.

[2] Between January 2008 and July 2009, Hairston hired Chicago political consultant Delmarie Cobb to prepare newsletters and news releases and to publicize ward meetings for the alderman, and paid Cobb thousands of dollars from Hairston's campaign fund, as well as nearly $28,000 from a taxpayer-funded payroll account, available to aldermen with no scrutiny.

[5] On August 26, 2022, Hairston announced that she would not run for re-election in the 2023 election, retiring at the end of her term.