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CHICAGO — The biggest story of Tuesday night was incumbent Lori Lightfoot getting knocked out of Chicago’s mayoral race — but the wards also saw interesting results.
What happened around the city:
First Mayor To Be Kicked Out After 1 Term In 40 Years
Lightfoot hoped she could win another term at Chicago’s helm — but she instead became the first mayor in 40 years to be voted out after just one term.
Lightfoot faced a crowded field of challengers and ultimately fell behind Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson in the mayoral race. She came in third place — not enough to succeed to the April 4 runoff.
Lightfoot conceded in a Tuesday night speech.
“Four years ago, I looked into the camera and spoke directly to young people of color who look like me and to every kid who looked like me when I grew up,” Lightfoot said. “And I’m going to do that tonight.
“Obviously, we didn’t win the election today, but I stand here with my head held high and a heart full of gratitude.”
Read the story:
• Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid, First One-Term Mayor In 40 Years
Credit: K'Von Jackson (left); Jim Vondruska/Block Club ChicagoFinal Mayoral Candidates Paint A Tale Of 2 Cities
Lightfoot’s loss means Vallas and Johnson are headed to an April 4 runoff — showing a deep divide in Chicago politics.
Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, positioned himself as the tough-on-crime candidate. He was portrayed by his campaign rivals as a more conservative option.
Johnson, meanwhile, has pushed a progressive agenda and received support from the Chicago Teachers Union.
It remains to be seen how far into the middle the two candidates will steer as they seek to appeal to more voters during the April 4 runoff.
Read the story:
• Johnson, Vallas Advance To Mayoral Runoff As Lightfoot Concedes Defeat
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoHow Your Neighborhood Voted
You know you want to see who all your neighbors backed.
Read the story:
• MAP: Here’s How Your Neighborhood Voted In the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election
Big Changes Expected After City Council Shakeup
Chicagoans already knew City Council would look vastly different in its new term after a bevy of alderpeople resigned early or didn’t run for reelection. Two alderpeople — Sophia King (4th) and Roderick Sawyer (6th) — were also forced out because they ran for mayor. That left many races wide open for fresh-faced challengers.
Here’s how those races ended up shaking out.
Read the stories:
• Rep. Lamont Robinson Advances To Runoff In 4th Ward As Challengers For 2nd Spot Go Down To The Wire
• Desmon Yancy, Martina ‘Tina’ Hone Defeat 9 Other Candidates To Advance To Runoff In 5th Ward Race
• South Side Pastors Head To Runoff In 6th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Roderick Sawyer
• Peter Chico, Ana Guajardo Head To Runoff In 10th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Sadlowski Garza
• Jeylu Gutierrez To Replace Indicted Ald. Ed Burke, Becoming 14th Ward’s 1st New Leader In 50 Years
• Jessica Gutierrez, Ruth Cruz Advance To Runoff In Northwest Side’s 30th Ward
• Bill Conway Wins Seat To Represent Downtown’s New 34th Ward
• Ald. Timmy Knudsen Headed To Runoff With Brian Comer In 43rd Ward Race
• Bennett Lawson Elected 44th Ward Alderman After Running Unopposed To Succeed His Boss, Tom Tunney
• Angela Clay, Kim Walz Poised To Head Into Runoff In 46th Ward Race To Succeed James Cappleman
• Joe Dunne, Leni-Manaa Hoppenworth Advance To Runoff In Open 48th Ward Race
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoIncumbent Alderpeople Forced Into Runoffs, Tight Races
Incumbents are generally seen to have a leg up when it comes to election time — but some alderpeople new and old were forced into races and runoffs.
Some races remain too close to call as mail-in ballots continue to be counted.
Read the stories:
• Ald. Daniel La Spata Could Be Headed For Runoff Against Sam Royko In Tight 1st Ward Race
• Ald. Nicole Lee Looks Headed For A Runoff Against Anthony Ciaravino In 11th Ward
• Ald. Jeanette Taylor Narrowly Avoids Runoff, Wins 2nd Term As 20th Ward Alderwoman
• Scott Vs. Scott: Ald. Monique Scott Headed To Runoff Against Creative Scott In West Side’s 24th Ward
• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez Declares Victory In 25th Ward Race, Winning Second Term To Represent Pilsen
• Ald. Chris Taliferro Could Narrowly Avoid Runoff In 29th Ward Race
• Ald. Gil Villegas Headed To Runoff With Challenger Lori Torres Whitt In 36th Ward
• Ald. Timmy Knudsen Headed To Runoff With Brian Comer In 43rd Ward Race
• Ald. Jim Gardiner Takes Big Lead In 45th Ward Race, But Still Too Close To Call
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago… While Other Officials Cruised Into Their Next Term
Alderpeople are some of the most powerful figures in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city. Yet some some candidates didn’t face challengers or rivals were knocked off the ballot.
Read the stories:
• Ald. Brian Hopkins Will Lead 2nd Ward For 3rd Term After Going Unopposed In Election
• Ald. Pat Dowell Sails To Victory In 3rd Ward After Running Unopposed
• Ald. Greg Mitchell Breezes Into Third Term As 7th Ward Alderperson After Running Unopposed
• Ald. David Moore Secures Third Term In 17th Ward After Running Unopposed
• Ald. Walter Burnett Sails Into 8th Term In 27th Ward After Running Unopposed
• Ald. Scott Waguespack Elected To 5th Term After Running Unopposed In 32nd Ward
• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Sails To Victory In 35th Ward, Secures Third Term In City Council
• Ald. Brendan Reilly Secures 5th Term In City Council’s 42nd Ward After Running Unopposed
• Bennett Lawson Elected 44th Ward Alderman After Running Unopposed To Succeed His Boss, Tom Tunney
• Ald. Matt Martin Reelected After Running Unopposed In 47th Ward
An Incumbent’s Blessing Gives Mixed Results
Some outgoing alderpeople gave their blessing to candidates — but that didn’t always result in a win.
Ald. Ed Burke (14th), who has been indicted and didn’t run for reelection, had ties to 14th Ward candidate Raul Reyes. But it was Jeylu Gutierrez who came out ahead in that race, winning 65 percent of the vote.
On the North Side, former 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith — whose resignation led to incumbent Timmy Knudsen being appointed — had given her blessing to candidate Wendi Taylor Nations. But Taylor Nations didn’t make the runoff; instead, Knudsen will face challenger Brian Comer.
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago; ProvidedScott Vs. Scott
The West Side will see a matchup between Scotts as 24th incumbent Ald. Monique Scott takes on rival Creative Scott in a runoff.
The two are not related.
Monique Scott was appointed to the position this June — replacing her brother, Michael Scott.
Read the story:
• Scott Vs. Scott: Ald. Monique Scott Headed To Runoff Against Creative Scott In West Side’s 24th Ward
Candidate With Daley Ties Not Assured Victory
Ald. Nicole Lee (11th), who was appointed to the Near South Side ward in March, had what for years would’ve been considered a political godsend: the backing of the Daley family.
But Lee faced a crowded field of challengers and appeared headed to a runoff after Tuesday’s race.
Read the story:
• Ald. Nicole Lee Looks Headed For A Runoff Against Anthony Ciaravino In 11th Ward
Every Race Result
• Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid, First One-Term Mayor In 40 Years
• Johnson, Vallas Advance To Mayoral Runoff As Lightfoot Concedes Defeat
• Ald. Daniel La Spata Could Be Headed For Runoff Against Sam Royko In Tight 1st Ward Race
• Ald. Brian Hopkins Will Lead 2nd Ward For 3rd Term After Going Unopposed In Election
• Ald. Pat Dowell Sails To Victory In 3rd Ward After Running Unopposed
• Rep. Lamont Robinson Advances To Runoff In 4th Ward As Challengers For 2nd Spot Go Down To The Wire
• Desmon Yancy, Martina ‘Tina’ Hone Defeat 9 Other Candidates To Advance To Runoff In 5th Ward Race
• South Side Pastors Head To Runoff In 6th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Roderick Sawyer
• Ald. Greg Mitchell Breezes Into Third Term As 7th Ward Alderperson After Running Unopposed
• Ald. Michelle Harris Cruises To Reelection In 8th Ward Race
• Ald. Anthony Beale Continues Long Tenure In City Council, Winning South Side’s 9th Ward
• Peter Chico, Ana Guajardo Head To Runoff In 10th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Sadlowski Garza
• Ald. Nicole Lee Looks Headed For A Runoff Against Anthony Ciaravino In 11th Ward
• 12th Ward Challenger Julia Ramirez Unseats Newly Appointed Ald. Anabel Abarca
• Ald. Marty Quinn Eases To Commanding Win In Southwest Side’s 13th Ward
• Jeylu Gutierrez Will Replace Indicted Ald. Ed Burke, Becoming 14th Ward’s 1st New Leader In 50 Years
• Ald. Ray Lopez Avoids A Runoff To Win Third Term Representing The 15th Ward
• Ald. Stephanie Coleman Easily Wins Reelection In 16th Ward Race
• Ald. David Moore Secures Third Term In 17th Ward After Running Unopposed
• 18th Ward’s Derrick Curtis, Who Faced Flack After Accidental Shooting, Wins Reelection
• Matt O’Shea Wins 19th Ward Seat, Avoiding A Runoff
• Ald. Jeanette Taylor Narrowly Avoids Runoff, Wins 2nd Term As 20th Ward Alderwoman
• Ald. Michael Rodriguez Wins Handily In 22nd Ward Race To Represent Little Village
• Ald. Silvana Tabares Wins 23rd Ward Race, Entering Her Fourth Term
• Scott Vs. Scott: Ald. Monique Scott Headed To Runoff Against Creative Scott In West Side’s 24th Ward
• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez Declares Victory In 25th Ward Race, Winning Second Term To Represent Pilsen
• Jessie Fuentes Poised To Win 26th Ward Race, Replacing Longtime Ald. Roberto Maldonado
• Ald. Walter Burnett Sails Into 8th Term In 27th Ward After Running Unopposed
• 28th Ward Ald. Jason Ervin Wins 4th Term In Office Despite Last-Minute Challenger
• Ald. Chris Taliferro Could Narrowly Avoid Runoff In 29th Ward Race
• Jessica Gutierrez, Ruth Cruz Advance To Runoff In Northwest Side’s 30th Ward
• Ald. Felix Cardona Jr. Seals 2nd Term After Sweeping 31st Ward Race
• Ald. Scott Waguespack Elected To 5th Term After Running Unopposed In 32nd Ward
• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez Avoids Runoff, Wins Reelection To 33rd Ward
• Bill Conway Wins Seat To Represent Downtown’s New 34th Ward
• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Sails To Victory, Secures Third Term In City Council
• Ald. Gil Villegas Headed To Runoff With Challenger Lori Torres Whitt In 36th Ward
• Ald. Emma Mitts Wins 37th Ward Race, Securing Her 7th Term In City Council
• Ald. Nick Sposato Fends Off Challengers, Secures 38th Ward Reelection
• Ald. Samantha Nugent Retains Seat As 39th Ward Alderman
• Ald. Andre Vasquez Clinches Reelection In 40th Ward Race
• Ald. Anthony Napolitano Cruises To Reelection In 41st Ward Race
• Ald. Brendan Reilly Secures 5th Term In City Council’s 42nd Ward After Running Unopposed
• Ald. Timmy Knudsen Headed To Runoff With Brian Comer In 43rd Ward Race
• Bennett Lawson Elected 44th Ward Alderman After Running Unopposed To Succeed His Boss, Tom Tunney
• Ald. Jim Gardiner Takes Big Lead In 45th Ward Race, But Still Too Close To Call
• Angela Clay, Kim Walz Poised To Head Into Runoff In 46th Ward Race To Succeed James Cappleman
• Ald. Matt Martin Reelected After Running Unopposed In 47th Ward
• Joe Dunne, Leni-Manaa Hoppenworth Advance To Runoff In Open 48th Ward Race
• Maria Hadden Storms To Reelection In Rogers Park’s 49th Ward Over 2 Challengers
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