Lightfoot, the first black woman to be mayor,sparked controversy in 2021 when she opted to only grant one-on-one interview requeststo minority journalists. The cornerstone of his anti-violence strategy is his tax-the-rich plan to bankroll $1 billion in new spending on public schools, transportation, new housing, health care, mental health and job creation. All Rights Reserved. But Lightfoot was quickly slammed over her hypocrisy after she posted footage of herself celebrating with fellow Democrats after Biden defeated Donald Trump. I'm a person who believes in taking issues on head-on. But she received a nice going away present from an Illinois administrative judge late last week. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Ousted Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot urges Dems to speak the truth on violent crime amid spike, The week in whoppers: Homeland Security boss border bunk, Randis revisionism and more, Good Samaritan who saved couple from Chicagos Teen Takeover rips Mayor Lightfoot, Couple recounts terrifying ordeal after mob attack while walking in Chicago, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot sensationally lost her re-election bid. BRANDON JOHNSON: We have built a multicultural, multigenerational movement - Black, brown, white, Asian. Another alderman in the race also dismissed concerns about the crowded field. Its not a story that Vallas made the runoff. Currently, six other candidates have announced their 2023 run for mayor: Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner, police officer Frederick Collins, Ald. But, importantly, I've offered to him since that initial meeting, and in subsequent conversation, I am here to help in any way that he would like. "I can't concern myself about who else gets in the race. But I stand here with my head held high and my heart full of thanks, Lightfoot told supporters shortly before 9 p.m. You will not be defined by how you fall. McElroy said officers have taken 45 minutes to respond to crimes shes witnessed in her neighborhood. Mayor Lightfoot was also asked if she has learned from any mistakes during the past three and a half years, to which she said, "Yes," adding that she has not always done things perfectly but said she's always tried to collaborate. He will get a lot of attention, and hes a good performer. A local county commissioner, Brandon Johnson, is chief among them. But at other times, Lightfoots actions have been questioned. She faced stiff competition, particularly from Johnson, who had the backing and organizational benefits of the powerful Chicago Teachers Union, as well as Willie Wilson, a Black entrepreneur who had been polling ahead of Johnson. Its a saturation ground game even in precincts where Johnson was not expected to do well. So that's what the pundits are saying. The CTU endorsed Johnson after deciding not to wait for Garcias decision to enter the race. In fact, he wants to cut at least $150 million from the police budget by reducing the number of supervisors and raising the ratio between bosses and rank-and-file officers. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On the issue of crime, under Lightfoot, Chicago in 2021 recorded the most killings in a quarter-century, 797, and more than 3,500 shootings which was 1,400 more than were recorded in 2019, when Lightfoot first took office. In just the past week, two Chicago police officers and a U.S. Marshall were shot in the city. The election will be an early test this year of how crime factors into mayoral races in big-city Democratic strongholds. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Lightfoot has criticized Vallas as a Republican in disguise, noting he has received campaign contributions from GOP donors. Garcia led with 20%, followed by Vallas with 18% and Lightfoot with 17%. I think she feels that crime is low, to be honest with you. She had already kicked up her fundraising efforts and. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday announced the launch of her campaign for a second term. And I dont even know if she still thinks that crime is high. Loving people and investing in people that is the way my father raised me. CHICAGO -- Lori Lightfoot made history as the first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve as Chicago mayor, sailing to victory four . But, his oft-repeated promise to hunt criminals down like rabbits apparently gave voters second thoughts even after Wilson held a string of gas and grocery giveaways. John Catanzara: The FOP President has a chilly relationship with Lightfoot and announced his candidacy after being forced to retire as a police officer. The 9-person stage drama in Chicago that wont end on Election Day (Politico), Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Faces Tough Re-Election Bid (The Wall Street Journal), As Lightfoot Tries for Second Term, Jabs Go From Friendly to Harsh (The New York Times), Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks to supporters, at a campaign rally on February 25, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Lightfoot announced she would seek re-election as the Windy City's mayor in June 2022. As for her successor, Lightfoot said it will be critical for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to rise above the fray and not be beholden to any special interests. Marking her second anniversary in office in May 2021, Lightfoot slammed the overwhelming whiteness of Chicagos media and urged outlets to be focused on diversity., She later defended the declaration, telling the New York Times that the number of non-white reporters covering her was unacceptable.. Virginia Beach struck by tornado, dozens of homes damaged, At least 27 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago weekend shootings: police, Toddler dies after being shot inside Chicago home last week: officials. She fought with police when she mandated they get a COVID-19 vaccine to stay on the job. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday that she has not made up her mind on running for re-election at the halfway point in her term. Three-to-four thousand more votes across Black Chicago. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images), The 9-person stage drama in Chicago that wont end on Election Day, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Faces Tough Re-Election Bid, As Lightfoot Tries for Second Term, Jabs Go From Friendly to Harsh (The New York. They said that this would never happen. In response to the criticism, Lightfoot compared her style to her predecessors, including former Mayors Rich Daley and Rahm Emmanuel. Tessa Weinberg covers city politics and government for WBEZ. Lightfoot has increased her support in some areas of the city. 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Four years ago Mayor Lori Lightfoot swept every corner of the city and won all 50 wards. Another 18% said they were still undecided. Lightfoots first and only term was marred by the pandemic, civil unrest, a teachers strike, battles with the CTU over the reopening of schools and a seemingly endless strings of public arguments with City Council members and other elected officials. But to Jazz Allen, a 47-year-old Greater Grand Crossing resident, crime is an issue that has plagued Chicago for decades. Those disputes and more have inspired eight challengers, some pushing themes of unity, including a Democratic U.S. congressman from Illinois, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. Crime has become a central issue in the race: Though homicides dipped 14% in 2022 from 2021, when the city recorded more killings than in any year of at least the previous 20, the 695 murders logged last year are still well above pre-pandemic 2019, when there were 500 murders, according to Chicago police statistics. At a City Council meeting, Lightfoot was caught on a microphone referring to a union leader as this FOP clown., The police union has endorsed mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, a former city budget director and schools leader who served as an adviser to the police union during negotiations with City Hall. WATCH: Political Analyst Weights In On Lightfoot Reelection Bid. Lightfoot conceded defeat Tuesday night at her party in downtown Chicago, saying, "Obviously we didn't win the election today, but I stand here with my head held high.". The congressman had the support of 24% of the men surveyed, compared to 19% for Vallas, 14% for Lightfoot, 12% for Johnson and 11% for Wilson. If no candidate wins a majority on Feb. 28, the two candidates who win the most votes square off in an April 4 runoff. The city also saw more than 20,000 cases of theft last year, nearly double the amount of similar incidents in 2021, Chicago Police Department data shows. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Chicago mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson celebrates with supporters on Tuesday night. A triumphant Johnson claimed his spot in the runoff a few minutes later with an updated version of what former Mayor Harold Washington said on the day he became Chicagos first Black mayor in 1983. The citys population has also declined, as has Lightfoots reputation. Its something to see. Thursday, former Governor Pat Quinn is expected to be announcing his decision on whether to get into the race. Just 2% said theyd vote for activist JaMal Green, and 1% chose either Ald. The union approved an agreement in February 2021 to reopen the citys public schools to in-person learning after Lightfoot threatened to lock some educators out of remote learning software if they didnt return. Elected as a reform-minded outsider who would rid the city of pay-to-play politics, Lightfoot was criticized when a campaign staffer sent out an email to public school teachers seeking students to volunteer for the campaign in exchange for class credit. That offer doesn't expire on May 15," Lightfoot said. Starting next Monday, candidates can begin turning in their petitions, where 12,500 valid signatures are required, so candidates typically gather triple that. But, she does plan to stay in Chicago, and she said she is looking forward to being a private citizen again. He has further infuriated the CTU by proposing that scores of Chicago Public Schools buildings now operating more than half-empty forge partnerships with charters and parochial schools; the school day and school year be lengthened; and tax increment financing surplus be used to create a school voucher program. Vallas is the only white person in the running among one Latino and seven Black candidates. Fights with the teachers' union over when to bring kids back to school after the height of the pandemic led to work stoppages. Heres Brandon, a beaming Johnson said as his supporters chanted, We want Brandon., Well Chicago, we did it yall. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is looking to shore up support in the business community with a speech Friday that focused on financial progress that Chicago has made during her first term. Thats all to his advantage. Lightfoot has also clashed with the Chicago police union, the Fraternal Order of Police. If she fails to make the runoff election, she would be the first elected Chicago mayor since Jane Byrne the citys first female mayor to fail to win a second term. RELATED: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot receives endorsement from IL Senator Tammy Duckworth. He said that he fundamentally opposes abortion. Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy received an A- grade among pollsters analyzed by FiveThirtyEight. Johnson is also a big personality and a talented communicator who could ride a wave of national media attention into the runoff just as Lightfoot did in 2019, Axelrod said. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first term in office saw a spike in crime, disputes with labor unions, and the pandemic. She has pointed to her signature Invest South/West plan as proof that no mayor not even Washington has done more for the African-American community. In short order, Vallas needs to define Johnson in the same way Lightfoot has struggled to define him: as a radical who wants to defund the Chicago Police Department and whose $800 million tax the rich plan will drive jobs and businesses out of Chicago. The mayor points to a record of achievements that include pushing through a $15 minimum wage that labor unions had sought for years and approval of a long-sought casino thats expected to bring millions in revenue and thousands of jobs. Dipping toes: But that hasn't eased anxieties among Chicagoans. All Rights Reserved. Tina Sfondeles is the chief political reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. We've received your submission. "It's really sad to see someone who, you know, as well trained as a lawyer and a former prosecutor, elevate politics over constitutional rights in the way that the mayor did," said ACLU of Illinois Communications Director Ed Yohnka. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in danger of an early re-election knockout With nine people on the ballot, the Democratic first-term mayor faces credible threats from three opponents and. She also has budgeted over $3 million to protect access to abortion, including for people who travel to Chicago from states where the procedure is illegal. "There's a lot of anger, frustration and fear that is present, not only in Chicago, but across our country. Crime spiked during her term, though she has repeatedly touted that it dropped year-over-year in 2022. In the lead-up to Tuesdays election, polls showed that public safety was by far the top concern among Chicago residents. "I will miss the ability to have immediate impact on people's lives. CHICAGO (WLS) -- It has been two months since the voters sealed the fate of Lori Lightfoot as a one-term mayor. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file This time around, the mayoral field is almost certain to be smaller at least in part due to those soon-to-be-diminished mayoral powers. So if I'm running forward, I'm going to continue to do that. Roderick Sawyer, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Chicago businessman and philanthropist Willie Wilson. Lightfoot has seen her early popularity as a stalwart leader during the pandemic fade, amid rising crime rates and heated public feuds with local lawmakers and the citys largest unions, including the conservative Fraternal Order of Police, which endorsed Vallas, and the liberal Chicago Teachers Union, which endorsed Johnson. But it will be a story if Johnson does, Axelrod said last week. The results show Vallas has a clear lead, with 27% of the 806 likely voters saying they would cast their ballots for him, followed by 20% for Johnson, 19% for Lightfoot and 16% for U.S. Rep. Jess Chuy Garca (D)the polls margin of error is 3.45%. Ray Lopez, Ald. Some 250 supporters of Lightfoot attended a private campaign fundraiser in River North. SEE ALSO | NYC mayor says Lori Lightfoot's reelection loss in Chicago is 'warning sign for the country', At least 27 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago weekend shootings: police, Toddler dies after being shot inside Chicago home last week: officials, Teen boy shot to death on South Side ID'd: officials. She lost in the general election on February 28, 2023. Never will be good for Chicago, said Wilson, who said he plans to visit churches and neighborhoods before deciding whether or not to make an endorsement. It comes one week after another big name, Congressman Chuy Garcia, launched his mayoral campaign. She made a series of stops, mostly on the South and West Sides.. That's one thing that she is going to have to answer for at all costs. Theyre everywhere. So what are the missteps that led to Lightfoots landslide re-election loss? This time round, the stakes are higher, and her support from Black women is crucial for her re-election to a second term. "I am announcing today that, at . Sophia King. The announcement was accompanied by a campaign video posted on Monday to YouTube. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. But Chicagoans sent a message that they wanted change, rejecting both an incumbent mayor and a sitting congressman. She reflected on what went wrong, as well what she hopes will be her legacy. This is the new machine, Hopkins said, harkening back to the pre-Shakman heyday of the old Democratic machine. cheerfully dancing in the streets during a Lunar New Year parade. But yet the families left, because, one, nothing is changing, and its actually getting worse and worse under her administration, McElroy said of Lightfoot. She's running for re-election next week against eight challengers. But with six other Black candidates in the race, Lightfoots narrow path to victory was ultimately sealed off. Greg Abbott to Stop Bussing Migrants to Chicago, Mississippi River Waters Keep Rising in Iowa and Illinois, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day'. 33 . Garcia was viewed favorably by 33% and unfavorably by 18%, followed by Vallas, with 30% favorable views and 20% unfavorable. And upon announcing her reelection, she told a room of supporters on Chicago's South Side she anticipated the challenging campaign. "So, for me, the biggest challenge wasn't some particular person's name on the ballot. POLL: Bleak numbers spell trouble for Mayor Lightfoots reelection bid, Accused of bilking Vallas campaign out of $680,000, consultant says allegations are shameful and unfounded, Mayor-elect Johnsons plans to double number of summer jobs for Chicagos teens might require some work, Vallas sues consultant who allegedly defrauded campaign out of $680,000, Conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder announces 2024 GOP bid for president, Mayor-elect Johnson pitches unity to state legislators in Springfield: Our challenges are not that unique, Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches 2024 presidential campaign, The Edgar haircut is one more thing kids, parents can disagree on, Dear Abby: When I travel, friend checking my home also snoops through my things, Shoplifter stabs Loop Target employee, leading to store closure. We have started to change Chicago around for the better, Lightfoot said during a recent debate. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is the first openly gay person and first Black woman to lead the city. Tuesday voters rejected reelection bid. Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Paul Vallas is someone who is supported by the Jan. 6th insurrectionists. Paul Vallas. "Hundreds dead, out-of-control violent crime, and $6.00 per gallon gas is the reality Chicagoans live with daily. Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor who had never before run for political office, emerged from a crowded field in 2019 to defeat far better known candidates with support from voters weary of political corruption and coverups. The mayor faced hot water again with the teachers union in early 2021 over her plans to reopen schools as the COVID-19 pandemic began to wane. ), a Lightfoot supporter, told the Sun-Times shortly before the mayor conceded. The heart of labor is beating strong in Chicago and Illinois, Why were launching The Democracy Solutions Project, Opioid crisis cant be tackled without better pain management training for doctors. This time, he spent more than $6 million of his personal fortune. Vallas was widely expected to emerge from the first round of voting, having built his campaign around a tough-on-crime theme and garnering supportin the vote-rich northern and northwestern sides of the city. But recent polls show the mayor's approval rating dropping to under 50%. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot officially launched her 2023 campaign for reelection in a video made public Tuesday afternoon that shows the mayor embracing her reputation as a tough talker who. "I don't see myself running again for any office," Lightfoot said. But Lightfoot put her best foot forward, telling an Executives' Club audience last week that she will leave the city with just an $85 million deficit for 2023. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot is going on the offensive in the campaign for mayor as the field continues to grow. Vallas ran as a moderate law-and-order candidate, while Johnson ran on an unabashedly progressive agenda. What about my sons and my daughters that have never committed a crime, that have a future ahead of them?. For white voters, 38% of those polled said theyd vote for Vallas, followed by 16% for Lightfoot, 14% for Johnson and 10% for Garcia. Mayor Lori Lightfoot will seek to more than triple the tax charged on most solo ride-share patrons heading in and out of downtown Chicago as part of her plan to reduce congestion and raise much . So, were gonna invest in the people of the city.. Lightfoot wound down her term in office, and in her only local TV interview since the election, publicly opened up about the election for the first time. That gap widened when voters were asked to choose between Lightfoot and Garcia, with the Southwest Side congressman earning 54% of the vote compared to 30% for the mayor. Middle row, from left: Willie Wilson, Brandon Johnson, Paul Vallas. I will tell you in that big crowd a week ago, everybody was wearing masks, she said. "But I thought the mood was great kicking it off, and I think it's a good thing.". I will let them speak to that and continue to try and get our message out," said 4th Ward Alderwoman Sophia King, who is also a candidate for mayor. Veteran political consultant Delmarie Cobb says in a city that's a third Black, a third white and a third Latino, it's a factor that can't be ignored. And if everyone wants to keep up, they can try to keep up," said Alderman Roderick Sawyer, a fellow candidate for mayor. Among women voters, 20% said theyd vote for the mayor, 18% for Garcia, 17% for Vallas and 12% for Wilson. Hell get more attention because hell have started off as kind of an unknown, and hell have scaled the heights to get into the finals, and hell be treated, initially, as the story, Axelrod said. We can never, ever allow this to happen again, retired U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Il. But Lightfoot has taken the most heat for increased crime, with homicides hitting a 25-year high in 2021 with roughly 800. Lightfoot's handling of crises has sometimes drawn praise, such as when she ordered lockdowns early in the coronavirus pandemic and an image of the stern-faced mayor became a popular meme. A recent pollsaid 63% of Chicagoans said they didn't feel safe. Lightfootended up taking Catanzara to court, where she successfully argued that his call for officers to ignore the vaccine mandate was illegal. With five weeks to go until the runoff, both Vallas and Johnson will likely need to raise $5 million in short order while also debating each other and crisscrossing the city in a frenzied attempt to expand their political bases. It will not only come from providing the police with the resources and the support that they need, but from building the bond between the police department and the community so we have true community policing. Election Day is Tuesday, with a likely runoff for the top-two vote-getters in April. But I recognize that people in the city dont feel safe.". Asked their opinions of some of the leading candidates, voters gave the highest marks to Garcia and Vallas and dismal ones to Lightfoot. Thanks for contacting us. Ousted Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, said that other liberal mayors have to be honest about violent crime that is terrifying residents. The contrast between the two runoff opponents could not be more stark when it comes to the future of policing and public education in Chicago. I need you to be on that ride with me. Melvina McElroy, a 57-year-old Englewood resident, had high hopes for Lightfoot when she voted for her in the 2019 mayoral election, and even helped give people rides to the polls. JESUS CHUY GARCIA: Chicago needs a mayor who will bring together and unite instead of driving us apart. But that doesn't mean we're not ready for the fight. On Tuesday, Wilson was asked whether he would endorse Vallas, whose law-and-order, take-the-handcuffs-off the police message was similar to his own message. Lightfoot pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and the escalating violence that ensued as factors in her election loss. Lightfoot also went head to head with the citys police union repeatedly during her tenure, most recently over her COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers. Voters were asked about potential runoff matchups and Lightfoot fared poorly in the scenarios that included her. "The Cook County Public Defender's Office, in the last calendar year, have represented folks in over 10,000 cases where there was a finding of not guilty or charges were dismissed," she said. But there are serious Black challengers to her left to choose from who say Lightfoot has reneged on progressive promises. Mayor Lori Lightfoot's reelection battle is clouded in uncertainty, her chances of beating either U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia or former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas in a runoff appearing slim and her prospects for even making it to the April election up in the air. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Her persona as a stern leader earned her a degree of popularity early in her term, but her style has come to be seen by many in political circles as overly abrasive. "It's a false narrative, as far as I'm concerned," Lightfoot said. I will also have zero tolerance when it comes to violating the law or violating the Constitution. In late 2020, Lightfoot was forced to defend herself after she popped up at a crowded victory party celebrating Joe Bidens presidential election victory just days before she enforced a stay-at-home order amid rising COVID-19 cases. "The road isn't going to be easy. Vallas wears his opposition from the teachers union like a badge of honor. The mayor was viewed favorably by 22% of likely Chicago voters and unfavorably by 54%. Copyright 2023 NPR. Lightfoot: She won 73% of the vote in the 2019 runoff election and is running for reelection. Lightfoot's unfavorable ratings have soaredwith Chicagoans fed up with gun violence, as well as carjackings and robberies. Its tribalism at its worst and at its best.. Vallas then returned to the law-and-order message that carried him into the runoff. "As Democrats, if we do not speak the truth about violent crim Teachers in the nations third-largest school district ended up going on strike for 11 days, which led to canceled classes for more than 300,000 students over a labor contract deal regarding pay raises. We will make Chicago the safest city in America, he said. Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot celebrates at her election night rally at the Hilton Chicago after defeating Toni Preckwinkle in the Chicago mayoral election on April 2, 2019. All rights reserved, campaign video posted on Monday to YouTube, Election 2022: Here's Who is Running for Governor of Illinois, State Rep. Kam Buckner Jumps Into Chicago Mayoral Race, In 1-on-1 Interview, Mayor Lightfoot Defends Millennium Park Curfew, Her Office's Handling of Crime, How Much Could You Get in New $725M Facebook Settlement? McElroy said over the years a dozen of her relatives have left the city for other states. "Obviously we've got to make sure we continue to do everything that we can to make public safety the priority, period. She shook hands with supporters at the Starlight Restaurant this morning. We will have a safe Chicago. It didnt save Lightfoot. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first term in office saw a spike in crime, disputes with labor unions, and the pandemic. April 25, 2023 / 1:17 PM / CBS Chicago. 9. Lightfoot has had a rocky first term, having to guide the city through the pandemic, inflation, violent crime and protests over police brutality. When asked what she will miss about being mayor, Lightfoot said, "there's a long list.
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