SOUTH SHORE — Longtime Ald. Leslie Hairston appears headed for a runoff against activist William Calloway after failing to net a majority of the vote.
With 38 out of 41 precincts reporting, Hairston had 48.6 percent of the vote, 1.4 percent shy of the 50 percent she need to avoid a runoff. Calloway came in second with 26.9 percent, with Gabriel Piemonte coming in last with 24.3 percent.
Hairston told Block Club Chicago Tuesday night that she isn’t worried.”I’m feeling optimistic. This isn’t my first runoff,” said Hairston from her election night party. “I’ll just have to remind voters of all the work I’ve done, and I think they’ll agree with me. I’m not letting anyone take the credit for my hard work.”
Calloway is already strategizing for the fight ahead.
“When I woke up this morning I saw 50 plus 1, so I’m a little disappointed by that,” said Calloway, who held an intimate celebration at his campaign headquarters in South Shore. “But I feel good that we feel good, so it’s all good.”
Calloway said that he planned to spend the day after the election mobilizing his supporters.
“This incumbent is weak, and very vulnerable,” he said “More people came out to vote against her than for her, and that speaks volumes.”
The 5th ward includes all or parts of Hyde Park, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Woodlawn and Jackson Park Highlands
Comments are closed.