On Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her reelection attempt when she was not one of the top two vote-getters in the city. This is the latest example of rising worries about crime in one of the nation’s biggest cities.
According to CNN’s projections, Paul Vallas, the current schools chief who ran on a tough-on-crime platform, and Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner supported by progressives and the Chicago Teachers Union, will proceed to the runoff election in April.
For the first time in over 30 years, Chicagoans voted out their mayor on Tuesday. Chicago’s sluggish recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a surge in violent crime during Lightfoot’s administration, and years of conflict with police and teachers’ unions all contributed to her downfall as mayor.
Lightfoot conceded on Tuesday night, informing her supporters that she will now be “rooting and praying for the next mayor of Chicago.” chicago mayor lori lightfoot
After Lightfoot had called Vallas and Johnson to concede, Vallas made jubilant comments emphasising the pro-police, tough-on-crime message that had been central to his campaign.
Safe streets are coming to Chicago. Chicago will become the safest metropolis in the United States, Vallas pledged.
In a city where almost 83% of votes went to the Democratic ticket in the 2020 presidential election, the big question over the next five weeks is whether or not Vallas’ more conservative message will draw enough support to win. In his speech on Tuesday night, Johnson gave his first indication that he intends to try to rally liberals who have backed other candidates in the nine-person field. He named all of the potential voters.
“If you voted for one of those other candidates, I want you to know that I am trying to be the mayor of you, too,” Johnson said. chicago mayor lori lightfoot
There will be a runoff poll on April 4 between the top two vote-getters among the nine candidates because no one is currently projected to receive more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday.
Lightfoot rose to prominence as a pugnacious reformer promising a break from the corruption and clubby governance that had long marked Chicago politics. She was the city’s first Black woman and first out gay person to serve as mayor, and Chicago was often singled out by conservatives in national debates over violence and gun control.
In a city where almost 83% of votes went to the Democratic ticket in the 2020 presidential election, the big question over the next five weeks is whether or not Vallas’ more conservative message will draw enough support to win. In his speech on Tuesday night, Johnson gave his first indication that he intends to try to rally liberals who have backed other candidates in the nine-person field. He named all of the potential voters.
“If you voted for one of those other candidates, I want you to know that I’m trying to be the mayor of you, too,” Johnson said. chicago mayor lori lightfoot
There will be a runoff poll on April 4 between the top two vote-getters among the nine candidates because no one is currently projected to receive more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday.
Lightfoot rose to prominence as a pugnacious reformer promising a break from the corruption and clubby governance that had long marked Chicago politics. She was the city’s first Black woman and first out gay person to serve as mayor, and Chicago was often singled out by conservatives in national debates over violence and gun control.
There is a shocking possibility that Chicago’s incumbent mayor, Lori Lightfoot, will be defeated in the first round of voting due to years of contentious brawls over policing, teacher pay, and Covid-19 public safety policies, as well as mounting complaints about long waits in Chicago’s public transit system.
In her bid for a second term, Lightfoot found herself with few friends and a number of powerful interests aligned against her. Vallas received the support of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police. Johnson had the support of the Chicago Teachers Association. Lightfoot’s rival, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, chose to sit this one out.
By Tuesday evening’s polling time in Chicago, more than 507,000 votes had been submitted, according to election officials. That number will increase as more ballots cast by paper are received.
Criminal activity and public safety issues have Chicago residents worried. The years of 2020 and 2021 were marked by a dramatic increase in citywide violence. The Chicago Police Department’s year-end report for 2022 reveals that while shootings and murders have decreased, other crimes, such as theft, carjacking, robberies, and burglaries, have risen.
The dynamic is not unlike that of other recent mayoral contests in major cities. New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams 2021 campaigned on a platform of supporting the cops and cracking down on crime. In Los Angeles, however, wealthy developer Rick Caruso lost to Representative Karen Bass last year despite spending $100 million on a campaign that emphasised a call for increased police presence. chicago mayor lori lightfoot
Despite the fact that the local elections in Chicago are non-partisan, on Tuesday not a single candidate on the ballot identified as a Republican. Lightfoot still tried to show Vallas in that light. Her record on crime was an early target of his attacks, and he received support from a reactionary police union.
In the meantime, Johnson was chipping away at Lightfoot’s liberal backing. He previously called for reduced financing for police but has since reversed course, saying he really just wants more money for things like mental health care.
“Lori Lightfoot hasn’t made Chicago safer, but I will,” he said in a commercial. Get intelligent, not just strong, now.
An elected Chicago mayor hasn’t lost in over 30 years; this article has been updated to reflect this fact.
