Chicago mayoral election: Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid

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CHICAGO – Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for a second term as Chicago mayor Tuesday in the nation’s third-largest city after facing widespread criticism over her divisive leadership and the city’s increase in crime.

Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will advance to the April 4 runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after none of the nine candidates won a majority in the officially nonpartisan election.

Lightfoot, who made history in 2019 when she became the city’s first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve as mayor, fell in popularity after Chicago saw a spike in crime following the coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, opponents have blamed her for the increase in crime and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader.

Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Lightfoot called being Chicago’s mayor “the honor of a lifetime.”

“Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path,” Lightfoot said. She told her fellow mayors around the country not to fear being bold.

Public safety has been a key ballot issue in the Windy City’s local election where policies on crime have increasingly resonated with voters. Residents also made selections for other local offices, including for representatives on the city’s new police district councils — the latest effort to improve police oversight and accountability.

Who was on the ballot in the Chicago mayoral election?

Lori Lightfoot, 60, a former federal prosecutor, campaigned as a progressive on promises to root out corruption. During her tenure, she has focused on investing in predominantly low-income communities of color on the city’s South and West Sides. She’s also received criticism for her handling of an 11-day teachers’ strike, the COVID-19 pandemic, and protests in the summer of 2020.

Paul Vallas, 69, is the former head of Chicago Public Schools and scored endorsements from the Chicago police union and the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. His campaign has focused on law-and-order, school choice and reforming the city’s finances. He previously ran for mayor in Chicago and for governor and lieutenant governor in Illinois.

U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, 66, ran for mayor in 2015 and previously served on the Chicago City Council and the Cook County Board of Commissioners and in the Illinois state Senate. Garcia entered the race late but has cast himself as someone who can unite progressives.

Willie Wilson, 74, is a multimillionaire businessman and philanthropist who owns a medical supply company and McDonald’s franchises. He said he’d donate his annual salary if elected.

Brandon Johnson, 46, is a former teacher who serves on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He’s endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.

Other candidates include City Council members Sophia King and Roderick Sawyer, Illinois Rep. Kambium “Kam” Buckner and young community activist Ja’Mal Green.

What are the key issues in the Chicago mayoral election?

Most Chicago voters say crime is the top issue, the poll found. Violent crime rose in cities across the nation during the pandemic, including in Chicago, where carjackings and shootings soared.

While homicides and shootings in Chicago fell by double-digit percentages last year from the year prior, other types of crimes – like robberies – rose, according to city data.

Candidates have laid out various plans to address the issue, including hiring more police officers, bringing back retired officers, removing the sitting police chief, adding a witness protection program, eliminating the city’s gang database and instituting programs designed to address the root causes of crime.

Other key issues include affordable housing, the state of Chicago Public Schools and public transit.

What are Chicago’s new police district councils?

Residents on Tuesday also casted votes as part of the city’s new civilian police oversight model. In 2021, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent racial justice protests, city leaders passed an ordinance creating two bodies — a citywide commission and district councils — aimed at improving community-police relations.

Voters elected three people to serve on councils in each of the city’s 22 police districts. The councils are tasked with building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, holding monthly public meetings, working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices and more.