Chicago mayoral race: Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson advance to runoff, casting Lori Lightfoot aside
Rachel Schilke
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Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson, the top challengers in Chicago’s mayoral race to incumbent Lori Lightfoot (D), have earned enough votes to move to a runoff in April, meaning Lightfoot’s reelection bid is now over in a historic defeat.
Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, who has been endorsed by the Chicago Police Union during an election cycle in which Lightfoot has been highly criticized for surging crime in the city, came in first in the race. However, he didn’t receive enough votes to win the contest outright. He will face Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson on April 4 in a two-person runoff.
Chicago’s mayoral race drew nationwide attention, not only for the city’s notoriety surrounding a rise in crime, immigration rates, and decline in education but because it involves an incumbent that is not on track to an easy victory.
CHICAGO MAYORAL RACE: TOP CONTENDERS AS ELECTION DAY APPROACHES
No incumbent had lost the mayorship in Chicago since 1989, when Richard M. Daley defeated then-Mayor Eugene Sawyer in the primary. Since 1840, 16 incumbents have lost their election either in the primary or general election, per the Chicago Public Library database.
Polls leading up to election day showed that Lightfoot would end up facing top contenders Vallas, Johnson, and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Her campaign has been fraught with controversy over her response to crime and the coronavirus pandemic.
A poll released Monday indicated that Lightfoot’s chances of reaching a runoff election were declining as support for Johnson continued to increase steadily. Polls showed Vallas in the lead, followed close behind by Johnson, and then Lightfoot trailing for third.
Vallas, who started off election day in the lead, had been gaining traction with voters throughout his campaign due to his prior experience in education and plans to address crime and city budgeting — all areas for which Lightfoot has been blasted due to her approach during her time as mayor.
Johnson’s popularity began to increase steadily in the last few months leading up to the election, with the candidate leaning on his experiences living in the West Side of Chicago. Lightfoot targeted Johnson specifically in her last ad campaigns, saying he would raise taxes and drive businesses out of Chicago.
Other candidates, such as Garcia, latched on to the city’s rising crime rate as a way to garner support. Garcia said during his campaign that he planned to restructure the policing system to free officers from administrative tasks and assign them to fight crime.
Throughout the election cycle, Lightfoot was criticized for running smear campaigns and attack ads rather than addressing the concerns raised by constituents.
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It is possible that candidates, including Lightfoot, will call for a recount. However, recounts may not occur until two to three weeks post-election day.