Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Unsuccessful in Bid for Re-election: What's Next?"
As the first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve as mayor in a major city, Lori Lightfoot has faced many challenges during her tenure in Chicago. Her battles with teachers’ and police unions have been particularly contentious, and she is now fighting for her political survival as she seeks a second term in office.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago lost her bid for a second term on Tuesday, a resounding defeat that reflected widespread dissatisfaction from voters over her handling of crime and policing in the nation’s third-largest city.
Four years ago, Ms. Lightfoot made history as the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Chicago when she swept all 50 of the city’s wards. But she saw her popularity plunge during the coronavirus pandemic as Chicago suffered a spike in violent crime, with looting and destruction on its famed Magnificent Mile in 2020.
The two candidates to emerge from Tuesday’s first round of voting and advance to an April 4 runoff, according to The Associated Press, were Paul Vallas, a former public schools executive, and Brandon Johnson, a county board commissioner.
Ms. Lightfoot, who is the first sitting mayor in Chicago since 1989 to lose re-election, said in a concession speech late Tuesday that she “will be rooting and praying for our next mayor to deliver for the people of this city for years to come.”
“I stand here with my head held high and a heart full of gratitude,” Ms. Lightfoot said.
With an estimated 94 percent of ballots counted as of Tuesday night, Mr. Vallas had won 34 percent of the vote, and Mr. Johnson 20 percent.
Facing off against eight challengers in the race, Lightfoot is unlikely to receive the necessary 50% of votes to avoid a runoff election, which will be held on April 4th. The four contenders who have emerged as frontrunners are Lightfoot herself, progressive Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, and Paul Vallas, former head of schools in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.
Vallas has the backing of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, while Johnson is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers’ Union, with whom Lightfoot has clashed repeatedly. The mayor's push for teachers to return to classrooms despite rising Covid-19 cases last year was met with an 11-day strike.
The race has largely focused on public safety, with concerns about crime and violence in Chicago at the forefront of voters' minds. While shootings and murders have decreased since 2020 and 2021, other crimes such as theft, car-jacking, robberies, and burglaries have increased since last year, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Lightfoot and her rivals have all pledged to address the issue of crime in the city, with the mayor stating the need to hire more officers, although she has faced criticism from Vallas, who has attracted support from conservatives and accused her of being aligned with Republican views.
Johnson has floated the idea of diverting some funds from the police budget to alternate sources, while Garcia has called for investing in communities and violence prevention programs.
Vallas has taken a tough-on-crime approach, advocating for more police presence in the city's public transit system, and making public security his top priority.
As the race heats up, the people of Chicago will be watching closely to see who will emerge as the top two candidates to face off in the April runoff. For Lightfoot, the road ahead is uncertain, but she remains committed to serving the people of Chicago with dedication and perseverance.