Introducing Mayor-elect Lightfoot
Former Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot defeated Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle 74 percent to 26 percent in the mayoral runoff. While the results are still unofficial, Lightfoot appears to have won majorities in all 50 wards. She'll be sworn in May 20.
Lightfoot finished first among 14 candidates in the Feb. 26 general election with 17.5 percent of the vote. In three polls conducted during December 2018 and January 2019, Lightfoot was the first choice of between 3 and 5 percent of respondents. Preckwinkle polled highest in each of those polls, with between 13 percent and 24 percent support.
Before the Feb. 26 general election, Lightfoot had raised $1,641,324, putting her in sixth place among the 14 candidates. Preckwinkle was second in fundraising with $4,631,244.
Background:
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2015-2018: President of the Chicago Police Board
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2016: Co-chair of the Police Accountability Task Force
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2005-2018: Senior equity partner, Mayer Brown LLP
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2005: First deputy, Chicago Department of Procurement Services
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2004-2005: Chief of staff and general counsel, Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications
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2002-2004: Chief administrator, Office of Professional Standards, Chicago Police Department
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1996-2002: Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois
The campaign:
Lightfoot campaigned as the reform candidate in the race, independent of machine-style politics Lightfoot said Preckwinkle was part of. Lightfoot’s campaign slogan, "Bring in the Light," debuted in her first TV ad Feb. 6. It emphasized her anti-corruption message.
Preckwinkle campaigned as the most progressive candidate in the race, pointing to both her 19 years as a 4th Ward alderman and nine years as president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Preckwinkle said Lightfoot was a wealthy corporate lawyer with a questionable record.
Lightfoot has said her top policy objectives are quality neighborhood schools, public safety, the city's affordability for working families, and ending aldermanic privilege.
Firsts:
Lightfoot will become Chicago's first female African-American mayor. The city has had one elected African-American mayor (Harold Washington, 1983-1987) and one female mayor (Jane Byrne, 1979-1983) until now.
Lightfoot will also be the city's first openly gay mayor.
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