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City council elections in Chicago, Illinois (2019)

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2019 Chicago elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: November 26, 2018
General election: February 26, 2019
Runoff election: April 2, 2019
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor, City Council, City Clerk, & City Treasurer
Total seats up: 53 (click here for mayoral elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Chicago mayoral election
Runoff election overview
General election overview
Major issues
Candidates' key messages
Timeline of events
History of the office
Other Chicago elections
Chicago City Council
Chicago City Clerk & Treasurer
City elections in Chicago
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2019

The city of Chicago, Illinois, held general elections for mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, and all 50 seats on the city council on February 26, 2019. Runoff elections for races in which no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote were held on April 2, 2019.[1]

This page covers the elections for city council. Click here for coverage of the mayoral race. Click here for coverage of the clerk and treasurer races.

The Chicago City Council gained 12 newcomers as a result of the 2019 elections, between five open races and seven incumbents defeated. Forty-five incumbents sought re-election, for an incumbency success rate of 84 percent. The city saw about the same incumbency success rate in 2015, when 44 council members sought re-election and seven were defeated.

Fifteen council races went to runoffs. Three incumbent aldermen lost elections outright on Feb. 26: 1st Ward Ald. Joe Moreno, 45th Ward Ald. John Arena, and 49th Ward Ald. Joseph Moore. Four incumbents lost in runoffs: Toni Foulkes (16th), Milagros "Milly" Santiago (31st), Deb Mell (33rd), and Pat O'Connor (40th).

As a result of the 2019 elections, the number of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members on the council increased from one to six. Five newly elected aldermen were DSA members at the time of the election: Daniel La Spata (1st Ward), Jeanette Taylor (20th), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd), and André Vasquez (40th). They joined incumbent Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), DSA member since 2015.[2]

Average turnout by ward was 32.3 percent for the 2019 runoff and 34.9 percent for the February general election. Average turnout by ward was up 0.9 percentage points from the 2015 general election, but runoff turnout was 8.8 percentage points lower than in 2015. See more on turnout by ward going back to 2003 below.

City council members serve four-year terms. Each city council member, known as an alderman, represents one of Chicago's 50 wards. On average, 54,000 people lived in each ward as of the 2010 census.[3]

The city council shaped by this election faced a number of issues, including the availability of affordable housing, crime rates, economic and racial divisions, policing, and government ethics. Ballotpedia included coverage of major issues in the races.

This page includes:

Click here to see which candidates in these races responded to Ballotpedia's Chicago 2019 survey.

Chicago voter? Dates you need to know.
Candidate Filing DeadlineNovember 26, 2018
Runoff Registration DeadlineApril 2, 2019
Absentee Application DeadlineMarch 28, 2019, at 5 p.m.
Early Voting DeadlineApril 1, 2019
General ElectionFebruary 26, 2019
Runoff ElectionApril 2, 2019
Voting information
Polling place hours6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.


Overview

The city council is Chicago’s primary legislative body. The council is responsible for adopting the city budget; approving mayoral appointees; levying taxes; and making or amending city laws, policies, and ordinances.

  • 212 candidates filed to run in the 2019 city council election.
  • 160 candidates remained on the ballot after the petition challenge process was complete.
  • 45 incumbents sought re-election. Races for the 20th, 22nd, 25th, 39th, and 47th wards were open.
  • 4 incumbents faced no opposition at the filing deadline.[4]
  • 1 incumbent became unopposed during the petition challenge process; the election board removed Ald. Nicholas Sposato's (38th Ward) challenger from the ballot.
  • In 2015, 44 incumbent council members ran for re-election. Seven were defeated—an incumbent re-election rate of 84 percent. Heading into the 2019 election, 13 city council members (26 percent) were first elected in 2015.

Ward map

Candidates and election results

Runoff election

Chicago City Council general runoff election

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Candidates
Ward 5

Green check mark transparent.pngLeslie Hairston (i)
William Calloway 
Ward 6

Green check mark transparent.pngRoderick Sawyer (i)
Deborah Foster-Bonner 
Ward 15

Green check mark transparent.pngRaymond Lopez (i)
Rafael Yañez 
Ward 16

Toni Foulkes (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngStephanie Coleman 
Ward 20

Nicole Johnson  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngJeanette Taylor 
Ward 21

Green check mark transparent.pngHoward Brookins (i)
Marvin McNeil 
Ward 25

Alex Acevedo 
Green check mark transparent.pngByron Sigcho-Lopez  Candidate Connection
Ward 30

Green check mark transparent.pngAriel Reboyras (i)
Jessica Gutierrez 
Ward 31

Milagros Santiago (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngFelix Cardona Jr.  Candidate Connection
Ward 33

Deb Mell (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngRossana Rodriguez Sanchez  Candidate Connection
Ward 39

Robert Murphy 
Green check mark transparent.pngSamantha Nugent 
Ward 40

Patrick O'Connor (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngAndré Vasquez  Candidate Connection
Ward 43

Green check mark transparent.pngMichele Smith (i)
Derek Lindblom 
Ward 46

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Cappleman (i)
Marianne Lalonde  Candidate Connection
Ward 47

Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Martin  Candidate Connection
Michael Negron  Candidate Connection


General election

Withdrew

Did not make ballot

Voter turnout history by ward

The table below shows voter turnout by ward in city elections (for mayor, council, treasurer, and clerk) between 2003 and 2019. Averages for 2015 through 2019 are provided in a column on the left. All wards had runoff turnout in 2015 and 2019 due to mayoral runoff elections. Click column headings below to re-sort the table by ascending or descending values.

Battleground runoff races

The following race highlights were taken from The Deep Dish, Ballotpedia's newsletter on Chicago's 2019 elections, where we featured one runoff race per week that was either open or had a longtime incumbent facing a challenger.

5th Ward

See also: The Deep Dish: March 28, 2019
Chicago 5th Ward.png

Welcome to the 5th Ward. Incumbent Leslie Hairston is in her first runoff election since 1999, when she was first elected to the city council.

Hairston’s opponent is William Calloway, a community organizer and activist who advocated for the Laquan McDonald shooting video to be released to the public.

Hairston received 48.6 percent of the vote Feb. 26. Calloway received 26.7 percent.

Hairston emphasizes her membership on the City Council Progressive Reform Caucus and has campaigned on her record.

She says she helped bring development to the ward, including two new grocery stores. Hairston also says she has pushed for a more independent oversight agency to investigate police misconduct, protested school closings, and encouraged the protection of residents in the area of the Obama Presidential Center, set to be located in the 5th Ward's Jackson Park.

Calloway highlights his activism on police reform and violence reduction.

His campaign priorities include increasing the inspector general's authority to audit city council spending, which he says Hairston opposed; police reform; increasing development in the ward, which he says Hairston has not done enough of; and supporting a community benefits agreement for the Obama Presidential Center, which would require some jobs associated with the development go to local residents and that low-income housing be available in the area.

Hairston and Calloway disagree on some city council ethics reform proposals. Hairston opposes term limits while Calloway supports them. Calloway thinks aldermen should not hold outside employment. Hairston disagrees, unless a job presents a conflict of interest.

The Chicago Sun-Times endorsed Hairston. The Chicago Tribune backed Calloway.

The 5th Ward includes parts of Hyde Park, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Woodlawn, and Jackson Park Highlands neighborhoods.

16th Ward

See also: The Deep Dish: March 21, 2019
16th Ward.png

Welcome to the 16th Ward, where incumbent Toni Foulkes and challenger Stephanie Coleman are competing in a runoff rematch.

Foulkes won the first meeting in 2015, defeating Coleman in the runoff election by 143 votes.

In this February’s general election, where six candidates were on the ballot, Foulkes won 32 percent of the vote to Coleman's 44 percent.

Foulkes has been a council member since 2007, when she was elected to represent the 15th Ward. Redistricting in 2012 changed the 15th Ward’s boundaries, and Foulkes ran to represent what had become the 16th Ward in 2015. In addition to serving as alderman, Foulkes is executive vice president of the board of directors of the Paul Simon Job Corps of Chicago, a career development program for teens and young adults.

Coleman has been the Democratic committeewoman for the 16th Ward and city vice-chair for the Cook County Young Democrats since 2016. She is the daughter of former 16th Ward Ald. Shirley Coleman (1991-2007).

Foulkes says public safety, education, and economic development are her priorities and that she has a record of delivering on these issues. She says crime in the ward has decreased 53 percent, STEM programs have grown, and more than $150 million-worth of economic development is taking place in the ward.

Coleman says civic engagement, youth involvement in education policy, public safety, and economic development are her priorities. She emphasizes her experience as Democratic committeewoman and working with youth, saying these equip her to represent the ward.

The Chicago Teachers Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 back Foulkes. The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times editorial boards endorsed Coleman.

The 16th Ward includes parts of Englewood, Gage Park, West Englewood, and Chicago Lawn.

40th Ward

See also: The Deep Dish: March 14, 2019
40Ward.png

Welcome to the 40th Ward. The current incumbent is Patrick O'Connor, the council’s second longest-serving member who was first elected in 1983. He’s seeking re-election against challenger André Vasquez.

O'Connor ran unopposed in five elections between 1995 and 2011. He had one challenger in 2015. On Feb. 26 this year, he had four challengers and received 33 percent of the vote. Vasquez got 20 percent of the vote Feb. 26, in the April 2 runoff.

O'Connor works as an attorney in addition to his aldermanic role. Vasquez works as a marketing account manager at AT&T and is chair of Reclaim Chicago North Chapter. Vasquez says he leads "canvasses, strategy, and establishing community events (popular education workshops, social nights, chapter meetings)."

The Chicago Sun-Times asked the candidates what their top three priorities are for the ward. O'Connor said economic development, education, and public safety. He added that, on a citywide level, his priorities are city finances and ethics/transparency.

O'Connor is campaigning on his record, saying he has "worked for years to make the 40th Ward one of the safest neighborhoods in the city and a great place to live, work, and raise a family." He lists fighting for public school investments, raising the minimum wage, and providing efficient constituent services among his accomplishments.

Vasquez identified constituent services, affordable housing, and economic development as his top three priorities.

Vasquez says his campaign is about "listening to the ideas and concerns of neighbors in order to develop a framework of accessible and accountable representative government, which reflects how Andre will govern in office." He says he'd host quarterly town halls, forums, and ward nights and "set development goals in conversation with people from across the 40th Ward."

O'Connor's endorsers include the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, and several elected officials and unions. Vasquez is backed by progressive groups The People for Bernie Sanders and ONE People's Campaign, as well as elected officials and other groups.

The 40th Ward includes parts of Bowmanville, Lincoln Square, Edgewater, West Andersonville, and West Ridge neighborhoods.

47th Ward

See also: The Deep Dish: March 7, 2019
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Welcome to the 47th Ward. It's the home of current Mayor Rahm Emanuel and is represented by Ald. Ameya Pawar, who term-limited himself on the council and is now running for treasurer.

The open race attracted nine candidates. Matt Martin and Michael Negron were the top two vote-getters Feb. 26, with 39 percent and 21 percent respectively. They will appear in the April 2 runoff.

Martin works in the Illinois Attorney General's office as a civil rights attorney. He was involved in drafting the consent decree, a recently approved plan to reform Chicago's police department with federal oversight. Martin also served on Pawar's Zoning Advisory Council.

Martin says he's running "because we need to ensure that our neighborhoods have affordable housing, our schools are fully funded, and our police department gets badly needed reform."

Negron was Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) staffer on the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, worked in the Obama administration, and served as Mayor Emanuel's chief of policy from 2013 to 2018.

Negron says he's running "to ensure that families in the 47th Ward can continue to thrive here with safe, walkable streets, easy access to public transit, strong public schools, and vibrant parks and recreational spaces."

The 47th Ward Democratic Organization endorsed three candidates ahead of Feb. 26: Martin, Negron, and social worker Eileen Dordek. The Chicago Tribune endorsed Martin, while the Chicago Sun-Times backed Negron.

The 47th Ward includes parts of Roscoe Village, North Center, Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood.

Campaign finance

April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019

On April 17, 2019, The Daily Line published an analysis of campaign expenditures and cash-on-hand figures reported by most campaigns through March 31, 2019. Reports were filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The Daily Line noted, "This analysis covers April 1, 2018 through March 31, and does not include ward organization totals or political action committees controlled by candidates or their associates."[6]

The Daily Line's analysis also included spending totals per ward. The following table shows the 10 wards whose races had the highest spending totals. Four races topped $1 million in spending. The 14th Ward race saw the most spending at $2.1 million. There, Ald. Ed Burke defeated two challengers in the February general election. Altogether, aldermanic candidates had reported $22.7 million in spending.

October 1 to December 31, 2018

The Daily Line compiled the following figures from quarterly reports for candidate committees as well as other committees associated with candidates. Reports were filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Contribution and expenditure figures were reported for the period between October 1 and December 31, 2018; cash-on-hand figures were current as of December 31, 2018. Note: Some candidates did not report any receipts, spending, or cash on hand, and some candidates did not file reports.[7]

Click the "Next" button in the bottom righthand corner of the table to pull up the next 10 candidates.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[8][9][10]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • INCS Action Independent Committee, the political action committee of Illinois Network of Charter Schools, spent the following on a combination of phone banking, mail, TV, and digital communications, according to a March 27 report from The Daily Line:[12]

Endorsements

Runoff election endorsements

Sun-Times endorsements

The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board endorsed the following aldermanic runoff candidates. Click here to read the board's statements on each endorsement.

Tribune endorsements

The Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed the following aldermanic runoff candidates. Click here to read the board's statements on each endorsement.

General election endorsements

The following publications and groups released endorsement lists for Chicago's 2019 city council general elections. Click the links for full lists of endorsed candidates.

Runoff forums

Click the links below to view candidate forums for runoff races.

Candidate surveys

Issues

Ballotpedia identified the following as major issues in the 2019 city council elections based on media reports and events occurring alongside the election. To suggest other major issues for coverage, email editor@ballotpedia.org.

Affordable housing

Affordable housing requirements for developers

According to the 2003 Affordable Requirements Ordinance and subsequent amendments to it, developers with residential projects in the city meeting certain criteria (such as those receiving public funding) must:

  • Include a specified percentage of their units as affordable housing units (meaning they are deemed affordable to low- and middle-income families based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calculations);
  • build the required units offsite;
  • pay an in-lieu fee to the city's Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund instead of building the units; or
  • do some combination of these options.

The required percentage of units (at least 10 percent), regulations around offsite construction, and amount of in-lieu fees vary by area.[13]

In 2017, the city council approved pilot programs in two areas of the city (Milwaukee Corridor and Near North/Near West) increasing the required percentage of affordable housing units for residential projects within these areas and removing the in-lieu fee option.[13] In December 2018, the city council approved another pilot program increasing in-lieu fees and the percentage of required affordable units for developers with projects in Pilsen and Little Village.[14][15]

Proponents of increasing affordable housing requirements for developers argued that it is necessary both to meet affordable housing needs and to have some of those units located in neighborhoods that are economically thriving rather than concentrated in poorer neighborhoods.[16] The mayor and aldermen who proposed the Pilsen/Little Village pilot program described above cited concerns around gentrification in two of the city's predominantly Latino neighborhoods as a reason to increase affordable housing requirements.[14]

Developers argued that increasing affordable housing requirements would increase the cost of their projects.[17] The Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago stated that increasing in-lieu fees or requiring onsite unit construction would result in less affordable housing in the city by inhibiting investors from financing projects and causing developers to choose other cities.[18]

Aldermanic privilege

Aldermanic privilege, also known as aldermanic prerogative, refers to the unwritten, customary power of aldermen to veto development projects in their wards. Whether this power should be limited, or whether a customary power could be limited through legislation, were subjects of debate.[19]

Some alderman have supported aldermanic privilege, saying it enables them to shape their wards and respond to constituent desires based on their intimate knowledge of their wards.[20][21]

Critics claim aldermanic privilege has enforced segregation along racial and economic lines because residents and aldermen tend to oppose affordable housing projects in higher-income neighborhoods. In April 2018, the Metropolitan Planning Council proposed limiting aldermanic power to veto affordable housing projects in wards where less than 10 percent of housing qualifies as affordable housing.[22] The planning council describes itself as "an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization" that "serves communities and residents by developing, promoting and implementing solutions for sound regional growth."[23]

Crime

Reported murders in Chicago increased 60 percent between 2015 and 2016. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 765 murders in 2016 compared to 478 in 2015. The 2016 total represented the city's highest number of reported murders since 789 were reported in 1996. From 1985 to 2016, Chicago's annual murder totals peaked at 939 in 1992 and hit a low of 415 in 2014.[24]

In 2017, there were 653 murders. A Pew Research Center report stated that Chicago had the 14th highest murder rate, at 24.1 murders per 100,000 people, among cities with more than 100,000 residents in 2017.[25]

The following table shows the city's murder totals as reported by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics database from 1985 to 2017.[24]

Incidents of murder and other violent crimes were more prevalent in the city's West and South sides. Chicago Police Department data showed that, from mid-December 2017 to mid-December 2018, 50 percent of reported violent crimes took place in 12 of the city's 50 wards.[26]

Tax increment financing (TIF)

The information below was current through the 2019 election.

The purpose of TIF programs is to fund development with increases in property tax revenue that arise from an increase in property values due to the development itself. The Chicago Department of Planning and Development explains TIF in the following way:[27]

“

When an area is declared a TIF district, the amount of property tax the area generates is set as a base... As property values increase, all property tax growth above that amount can be used to fund redevelopment projects within the district. The increase, or increment, can be used to pay back bonds issued to pay upfront costs, or can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis for individual projects.[28]

”

Most TIF districts retain that designation for 23 years, during which various tax-funded bodies (such as Chicago Public Schools) receive their proportion of property tax revenue from the base amount set at the time of designation, while property tax revenues above that amount go into the TIF fund. Once TIF district designation has expired, all property tax revenues are distributed among the various tax-funded bodies as they were before the area was designated a TIF district.[27]

TIF districts, according to state law, must qualify as blighted areas or as being at risk of becoming blighted (conservation areas). A number of factors are considered when determining whether an area counts as blighted or at risk, including: obsolescence, excessive vacancies, code violations, inadequate utilities, and lack of physical maintenance.[27]

State law also says that TIF districts are to be established only in areas where development is not expected to occur without the implementation of the program.[29]

Chicago first began using tax increment financing in 1984. In 2017, Chicago had 143 TIF districts, and 31 percent ($660 million) of total property taxes collected by the city went to the TIF program. Most TIF districts that generated the highest revenue and saw the most TIF spending were in the city's downtown area (the central business district); TIFs on the West and South sides generated less revenue, according to a July 2018 report from then-Cook County Clerk David Orr.[30]

What is the debate surrounding TIF?

As of 2018, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development stated that the TIF program had created jobs in Chicago; that TIF assistance incentivizes private developers to invest in the city's development; that funds are distributed around the city, including to small businesses and housing projects, and not just concentrated in the downtown area; and that TIF does not take funding away from other property tax-funded bodies such as Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), since 1) those bodies continue to receive their portion of revenue from the base amount that was assessed when the district received its TIF designation, and 2) some TIF funds go toward projects undertaken by those bodies, such as transit improvement and school building repairs.[31]

Critics of how the TIF program had been implemented, including several 2019 mayoral candidates, argued that the definitions of blighted area and conservation area are too broad and that TIF funds often go toward projects in affluent areas as opposed to truly blighted neighborhoods; that TIF funds are often used to subsidize private development projects that may have been carried out without public financing; that any growth in property tax revenues not attributed to TIF development is unfairly kept from tax-funded bodies; and that the program lacks transparency and accountability.[32][33][34]

How is the money spent?

TIF funds may be used by the city for public works projects, issued in the form of reimbursements to private developers for certain project-related costs, or paid to developers as projects take place, among other possible uses.[35]

The following chart shows TIF fund commitments from 2009 to 2017 by purpose of expenditure, as categorized by the city of Chicago.

The city categorizes TIF spending in a number of ways. Some TIF funds are used toward projects undertaken by sister agencies—the CTA, CPS, and the Chicago Park District—such as repairing schools, improving public transit systems, and building parks. Some funds go toward economic development, such as the renovation or construction of buildings for businesses. Infrastructure concerns the building and repair of roads, sewers, bridges, and more. The SBIF/NIP/TIF Works category includes small business improvement, neighborhood improvement, and job training projects.[36]

Click here to see a map of TIF districts, projects, and approved funding amounts for each project.

Who decides where and how TIF funds are spent?

A number of city government bodies are involved in the designation of TIF districts and in deciding what projects will receive TIF funding. Among them are the city council, the department of planning and development, and the community development commission. All three must approve the designation of new TIF districts.[29]

All three groups must also approve funding for private TIF projects. Funding for other types of projects are decided on differently; for example, public infrastructure project funding is determined by a group of city department leaders.[29]

The mayor appoints the commissioner of the department of planning and development as well as the 15 members of the community development commission.[29]


Noteworthy events

Conviction on racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion (2019-2024)

See also: Noteworthy criminal misconduct in American politics (2019-2020)

On June 24, 2024, Burke was sentenced to spend two years in prison and pay a $2 million fine after being found guilty of racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion in December 2023.[37] He reported to prison on September 23, 2024.[38]

Extortion charges filed (January 2019)

On January 2, 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) filed a complaint in the U.S. Northern District of Illinois court alleging that 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke attempted to commit extortion. The complaint alleged that Burke attempted to use his position as alderman to solicit business for his law firm, Klafter & Burke, from a restaurant owner who was seeking permits for remodeling in 2017. It also claimed that Burke illegally sought a donation for another unnamed politician from an executive of the company.[39][40] The FBI had conducted raids of Burke's offices on November 29 and December 13, 2018.[39][40]

Burke said of the charges, "I believe that I’m not guilty of anything, and I’m trusting that when I have my day in court, that will be clear beyond a reasonable doubt." He stepped down from his role as chairman of the city council Finance Committee on January 7, 2019.[41] He withdrew from the law firm in April 2019.[42]

Charges expanded (May 2019)

On May 30, 2019, Burke was charged with two counts of attempted extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of racketeering, two counts of federal program bribery, and eight counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate an illegal activity. The May 30 indictment included the one charge of attempted extortion from January 2. Other charges were related to the redevelopment of the Old Main Post Office and a museum that wanted to increase admission fees.[43][44]

Burke released the following statement: "Any suggestion that Ald. Burke abused his position as a public official for personal gain is simply not true. The charges are unfounded and not based on actual evidence."[45]

Trial, conviction, and sentencing (2019-2024)

On June 4, 2019, Burke pleaded not guilty in court.[46][47]

On February 8, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Dow heard oral arguments.[48] Dow rejected motions from Burke's team to dismiss charges in June.[49] In July, Dow set the trial date for November 6, 2023.[50]

On November 28, 2022, Dana Kozlov of CBS Chicago reported that Burke would not run for re-election, saying she learned "this action happened the same day as a big bombshell dropped in Burke's federal bribery case. ... Adding to Burke's case now is a filing issued Monday, which states federal prosecutors have almost 90 hours of videos of consensually recoded meetings, and more than 2,000 texts, involving a cooperating witness – former Ald. Danny Solis (25th)."[51]

On December 21, 2023, Burke was found guilty on 13 counts related to racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion.[52] On June 24, 2024, he was sentenced to spend two years in prison and pay a $2 million fine.[37]


December 2018: More signature revocations than signatures filed in 13th Ward race

Candidates looking to secure a spot on the ballot for city council elections needed to turn in 473 valid signatures from registered voters within their wards by Nov. 26. DePaul University student David Krupa, running for the 13th Ward, turned in 1,703 signatures. Michael Kasper, election attorney for 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn, filed 2,796 affidavits from residents revoking their signatures on Krupa's petitions—1,093 more than the number of signatures the candidate submitted.[53]

Krupa claimed that precinct workers connected to Illinois House of Representatives Speaker Michael Madigan (D) misled residents into signing the affidavits in an effort to keep him off the ballot. He said, "Michael Madigan, our state speaker, has been doing this for a long time in my ward, and we think it's really unfair, and not just unfair, but undemocratic."[53]

Quinn commented, "I guess the better question is: a self-described, ‘day-one Trump supporter’ gets 1,700 signatures in the 13th Ward, without being disingenuous? That’s the question that comes to my mind."[53]

On December 15, 2018, Quinn withdrew his challenge to Krupa's candidacy. In a statement about its withdrawal of the signature revocation affidavits, the Quinn campaign wrote, "(Voters) deserve the opportunity to reject him. … No one whose personal conduct and whose extreme agenda so offend the city of Chicago should have the opportunity to hide behind false claims of victimhood, but that’s no doubt what a politician like Mr. Krupa would attempt to do should he be removed from the ballot."[54]

Candidate survey

Candidate Connection Logo.png

Ballotpedia invited all 2019 municipal candidates in Chicago to participate in our candidate survey, created through our partnership with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Interactivity Foundation, and City Bureau, as well as insights from more than one hundred diverse citizens living throughout Chicago’s wards.

Click here to view the survey.


Election history

2015

General Election Wards 1-25

General Election Wards 26-50

Runoff Election

About the city

See also: Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a city in Illinois. It is the seat of Cook County and the center of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. As of 2020, its population was 2,746,388.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Chicago uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[55] The mayor and city council each serve four-year terms.

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Illinois
Population 2,746,388 12,812,508
Land area (sq mi) 227 55,512
Race and ethnicity**
White 39% 63.3%
Black/African American 28.4% 13.8%
Asian 7.1% 5.8%
Native American 0.9% 0.5%
Pacific Islander 0.5% 0.4%
Other (single race) 12.4% 7.3%
Multiple 12% 9.2%
Hispanic/Latino 29.6% 18.5%
Education
High school graduation rate 86.8% 90.3%
College graduation rate 43.3% 37.2%
Income
Median household income $75,134 $81,702
Persons below poverty level 16.8% 11.7%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


State profile

See also: Illinois and Illinois elections, 2019
USA Illinois location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019

Presidential voting pattern

Congressional delegation

State executives

  • Democrats held six of 13 state executive offices. The Illinois Commerce Commission was composed of individuals with different affiliations. Elections for the other six offices were nonpartisan.
  • Illinois' governor was Democrat J.B. Pritzker.

State legislature

Illinois Party Control: 1992-2025
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Illinois quick stats
  • Became a state in 1818
  • 21st state admitted to the United States
  • Illinois' population doubled every 10 years between 1820 and 1860,
    making it one of the fastest-growing places in the world at the time.[56]
  • Members of the Illinois State Senate: 59
  • Members of the Illinois House of Representatives: 118
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 18
More Illinois coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Illinois
 IllinoisU.S.
Total population:12,839,047316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):55,5193,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:72.3%73.6%
Black/African American:14.3%12.6%
Asian:5%5.1%
Native American:0.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:16.5%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:87.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:32.3%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$57,574$53,889
Persons below poverty level:16.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Illinois.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Chicago, Illinois Illinois Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, "2019 Election Information Pamphlet & Calendar," April 10, 2018
  2. ↑ The Daily Line, "Five new Democratic Socialists were elected alderman this year, raising DSA's ranks to six at City Hall," May 1, 2019
  3. ↑ Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics, "Chicago Wards," accessed November 28, 2018
  4. ↑ Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, "Candidate Filings, February 26 2019," November 26, 2018
  5. ↑ Chicago Board of Elections, "Hearing Schedule for Objections," updated January 22, 2019
  6. ↑ The Daily Line, "Aldermanic candidates spent $22.6M in the past year: records," April 17, 2019
  7. ↑ The Daily Line, "Aldermanic candidates have more than $15M on hand heading into last weeks of campaign," January 22, 2019
  8. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  9. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  10. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  11. ↑ The Daily Line, "Realtors, charters celebrate wins, but face uncertain future," April 8, 2019
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Daily Line, "Super PACs formed by charter school backers, Realtors, Rahm’s allies spending big bucks in last days of campaign," March 27, 2019
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Burnham, "The Quest for Affordable Housing: Chicago Adopts New Developer Requirements," October 24, 2017
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 City of Chicago, "Mayor Emanuel Introduces Two Ordinances Designed to Preserve, Enhance Pilsen and Little Village to City Council," November 14, 2018
  15. ↑ City of Chicago Office of the City Clerk, "O2018-6119," accessed December 30, 2018
  16. ↑ Block Club Chicago, "City Must Spend ‘Millions’ More To Combat Affordable Housing Shortage, Group Tells Aldermen," August 2, 2018
  17. ↑ Crain's Chicago Business, "Chicago apartment developers scurry to beat new affordable-housing law," October 10, 2015
  18. ↑ Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, "Creating More Affordable Housing in Chicago," May 6, 2014
  19. ↑ WTTW, "Political, Financial, Housing Issues Face Next Mayor, City Council," November 19. 2018
  20. ↑ Smart Cities Dive, "Urbanism and the Peculiarity of Aldermanic Privilege," accessed December 30, 2018
  21. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "New study examines aldermanic prerogative and how it can damage efforts to create affordable housing," July 10, 2018
  22. ↑ Metropolitan Planning Council, "When Local Control Goes Wrong," April 3, 2018
  23. ↑ Metropolitan Planning Council, "About MPC," accessed January 21, 2019
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Chicago Police Department, "Annual Report 2017," accessed December 14, 2018
  25. ↑ Pew Research Center, "Despite recent violence, Chicago is far from the U.S. ‘murder capital,’" November 13, 2018
  26. ↑ Chicago Police Department, "ClearMap Crime Summary," accessed December 16, 2018
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, "Tax Increment Financing Program," accessed December 27, 2018
  28. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Urban Land Institute, "Findings and Recommendations for Reforming the Use of Tax Increment Financing in Chicago: Creating Greater Efficiency, Transparency and Accountability," August 23, 2011
  30. ↑ Cook County Clerk's Office, "Cook County TIFs to bring in a record $1 Billion according to Clerk Orr; Transit TIF revenue doubled," July 24, 2018
  31. ↑ City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed December 27, 2018
  32. ↑ Illinois Policy Institute, "Nearly a Third of Property Tax Revenue in Chicago is Diverted into 143 TIF Districts," July 26, 2018
  33. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Where 16 Chicago mayoral candidates stand on TIFs: Their full responses," December 8, 2018
  34. ↑ Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, "Improving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Economic Development," accessed January 1, 2019
  35. ↑ City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, "Tax Increment Financing: Streamlined TIF Program Overview and Application," accessed December 27, 2018
  36. ↑ City of Chicago, "Annual Financial Analysis 2018," accessed January 1, 2019
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 NBC Chicago, "Ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke sentenced in federal corruption case," accessed June 24, 2024
  38. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ex-Ald. Edward Burke reports to prison, where he’s now federal inmate No. 53698-424," September 24, 2024
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Chicago Tribune, "Feds charge powerful Ald. Edward Burke with corruption," January 3, 2019
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Ald. Ed Burke charged in attempted extortion of Burger King," January 3, 2019
  41. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Ald. Edward Burke, Facing Corruption Charge, Resigns As Finance Committee Chairman," January 4, 2019
  42. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Ald. Ed Burke no longer partner at tax appeals law firm at center of indictment," August 23, 2019
  43. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ald. Edward Burke indicted on expanded federal racketeering, bribery charges," May 31, 2019
  44. ↑ WTTW, "Ald. Ed Burke Indicted on 14 Counts of Racketeering, Extortion, Attempted Bribery," May 30, 2019
  45. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Ald. Ed Burke charged with racketeering in sweeping indictment," May 30, 2019
  46. ↑ WGNTV, "Chicago Ald. Burke pleads not guilty in federal court to corruption charges," June 4, 2019
  47. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Burke could go to trial in the middle of 2021, but judge declines to set specific date," February 4, 2020
  48. ↑ The Chicago Sun-Times, "Judge in Ed Burke’s criminal case tells lawyers ‘stay tuned’ after crucial hearing on evidence," February 8, 2022
  49. ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Judge rejects motions from Burke and co-defendants, says evidence should be considered at trial," June 6, 2022
  50. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Judge sets Ald. Ed Burke’s racketeering trial for November 2023 — giving Burke a chance to run again," July 12, 2022
  51. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Ald. Edward Burke, longest serving Chicago alderman, is not running for reelection," November 28, 2022
  52. ↑ United States Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois, "Former City of Chicago Alderman Convicted on Federal Racketeering, Bribery, and Extortion Charges," December 21, 2023
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 The Hill, "Chicago alderman candidate says election fraud allegations show 'perversion of democracy,'" December 11, 2018
  54. ↑ NBC Chicago, "Marty Quinn Withdraws Petition Challenge for Opponent David Krupa," December 15, 2018
  55. ↑ City of Chicago, "Chicago Government," accessed August 29, 2014
  56. ↑ Encyclopedia.com, "Illinois," accessed May 7, 2019
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