Chicago mayoral election: Lightfoot fails to run for re-election

Paul Ballas and Brandon Johnson are set to meet in the runoff to become Chicago’s next mayor after Tuesday’s voters rejected Incumbent Lori Lightfoot It’s his second term and he rebukes a leader who made history as mayor of the nation’s third-largest city.

Lightfoot, the first black woman and the first openly gay man to lead the city, was unsuccessful in her reelection battle after a tumultuous four-year tenure.

When Jane Byrne lost to Harold Washington, it was the first time in 40 years that an incumbent mayor of Chicago had lost after a term. CBS Chicago reported.

With about 98% of the vote, Vallas was first with 34% and Johnson was second with 20%. Lightfoot put him third with 17%. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia was 4th with him at 14%. No other candidate reached double digits.

Lightfoot, a former prosecutor and head of the city’s police review board, faced with multiple candidatesThey lashed out at her over the crime surge that began in the 2000s. COVID-19 Pandemic Their style of leadership is unnecessarily belligerent.

Speaking to supporters on Tuesday night, Lightfoot called being mayor of Chicago a “once in a lifetime honor.”

“Regardless of tonight’s result, we put up the right fight and led this city in a better direction,” said Lightfoot. She told mayors across the country not to be afraid to be bold.

According to WBBM, Lightfoot said, “We’ve had some intense competition in recent months, but I’m rooting and praying for the next mayor to serve the people of the city for years to come. increase.

At his victory party, Valas pointed out that Lightfoot had called to congratulate him and asked the crowd to applaud her. In agreement, he said he would work to address public safety issues if elected.

“We will make Chicago safe. We will make Chicago the safest city in America,” Vallas said.

The April runoff will offer voters a stark contrast of options.

During negotiations with the Lightfoot administration, Vallas served as an advisor to what CBS Chicago called the “right-leaning” Police Fraternity. He called for the addition of hundreds of police officers to patrol the city, saying crime had spiraled out of control during Lightfoot’s tenure and police morale had fallen to new lows.

Mayor Vallas has said the city needs to “take the handcuffs off” of officers by easing restrictions on police foot-tracking and vehicle-tracking, the agency said.

Cook County Commissioner Johnson received about $1 million from the Chicago Teachers Union for his campaign, as well as support from several other progressive organizations, including the United Working Families. A former teacher and union organizer, he says the answer to fighting crime isn’t more money for the police, but more investment in mental health care, education, jobs and affordable housing. and has been accused by rivals such as Lightfoot of wanting to refuse to fund the police. .

Johnson has avoided using the word “compensation” during the race, saying his campaign does not want to reduce the number of police officers. It said it was not just a slogan but an “actual, real political goal” and sponsored a non-binding resolution at the county board to redirect funds from police and prisons to social services.

Lightfoot criticized Vallas for being too conservative for Chicago and for welcoming support from controversial police union leaders. and equated Lightfoot’s vaccination obligations for city workers with the Holocaust.

During the campaign, Lightfoot touted its track record of investing in communities and supporting workers, including raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. She also noted that the city has weathered unprecedented challenges, including the pandemic and its economic and public safety impact, as well as protests against police.

“The world is a lot different than it was four years ago. I still believe I’m the right person, and I think the voters will agree, but we’ve been through a lot.” said Lightfoot. Westside in the final days before the election. “We can’t go back.”

Lightfoot was the first major U.S. city mayor to face re-election following a pandemic, recession and wave of crime in many places. I focused on the factors.

“Lori had a chance,” said Ronel Jolie, a 45-year-old customer service representative who lives on the West Side and voted for businessman Willie Wilson. Crime seems to be getting worse.”

Lindsay Hegarty, 30, a paralegal on Chicago’s North Side, said she supported Johnson because she thought he was the most progressive candidate on issues such as police, mental health and public transportation. He said it was because he was killed.

Race was also a factor, as candidates received votes in highly segregated cities with populations closely divided between black, Hispanic, and white residents.

Lightfoot says Valas’ campaign is to “take back our city” and stands by the president of the Police Fraternity, whom she calls racist, calling it “the ultimate dog.” He is accused of using a whistle. Recent Chicago Tribune Articles We also learned that Valas’ Twitter account liked racist tweets, as well as tweets ridiculing Lightfoot’s appearance and referring to her as masculine.

Vallas said he was not responsible for the tweets rated “abhorrent” and suggested that someone had unauthorized access to his account.

However, Lightfoot and some of her supporters saw some of the criticism of her leadership as motivated by racism, sexism and anti-gay sentiment.

Irvine Treasurer Melissa Conyers, who is black, said, “No other mayor has been asked to change this city in four years,” and white mayors like Emmanuel and Richard Daly said. You mentioned that you have served multiple terms. “Once you enter the game, the rules change,” she said.

During the weekend’s campaign, Mr. Vallas said his focus was on public safety, Chicago’s “demoralized” police department and the number of residents “running away” from the city’s school districts.

“It’s all a product of bad leadership,” said Valas.

A former city budget chief who also headed the school systems of Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia, Mr. Vallas lost the 2019 mayoral race. This time around, he’s focused on public safety, and police officers who left the police force under Lightfoot’s administration will return if he’s elected.

It seems to resonate with voters such as Antoine Jackson, who are concerned about rising crime. Jackson said he supported Lightfoot four years ago, but voted for Valas in Tuesday’s election. Lightfoot said he had “failed to control the violence within the community.” Jackson said he feels particularly unsafe when riding public transportation.