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* Food for thought as you read all the coverage today of Willie Wilson’s third race for mayor…
2015 Chicago mayoral campaign
Wilson ran for Mayor of Chicago in 2015, being one of several challengers to incumbent mayor Rahm Emanuel. […]Wilson placed third in a five-candidate race with 50,960 votes, equal 10.66% of the votes cast. Wilson’s endorsement in the runoff was actively sought by both candidates Rahm Emanuel and Jesús “Chuy” García. Wilson endorsed García [who lost]
2016 U.S. presidential campaign
After setting up an exploratory committee on May 11, 2015, Wilson officially announced on June 1, 2015, that he would be running as a candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 election. He ran as a Democrat. […]
Wilson received 1,314 votes, or 0.35% of the total, in South Carolina […]
In the general election, Wilson voted for Republican nominee Donald Trump.
2019 Chicago mayoral campaign
In March 2018, Wilson formally announced that he would run a second time for Mayor of Chicago in the 2019 mayoral election.
During his campaign, Wilson generated controversy for handing out money to churchgoers. This practice of his was challenged before the Illinois State Board of Elections, which found that it did not violate any campaign finance laws since the money came from his non-profit foundation. […]
Wilson was endorsed by the Cook County Republican Party. Wilson failed to make it to the runoff, placing fourth with 59,072 votes, equal 10.61% of vote cast […]
2020 U.S. Senate campaign
In August 2019, Wilson expressed his intention to challenge incumbent United States Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin in 2020, running in the general election as an independent challenger to Durbin. Rather than run as an independent, he ultimately opted to run under the ballot line of his newly created “Willie Wilson Party”. […]
Wilson received 4% of the vote statewide, finishing in a distant third place. His highest support came from the majority-black wards of Chicago where he had done well in both his mayoral campaigns. Totaling up all 18 of Chicago’s majority-black wards, Wilson garnered 18.5% of the vote, well ahead of Republican Mark Curran, who received only 4%, but still far behind Durbin who received 75.9%
Wilson won 9.37 percent of the Chicago vote in 2020.
What Wilson has demonstrated so far is that he has a ceiling of about 11 percent in Chicago. His relationship with Rauner and Trump won’t help this time, either. Yes, Wilson could take votes away from Lightfoot in the first round. But I’m not sure those voters would be with her anyway.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:08 am
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Willie Wilson’s main goals in all of his public endeavors are as follows: 1) Getting to hear “Willie Wilson” on TV more, and 2) Getting Willie Wilson to pay less in taxes.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:12 am
I think his campaign will be good for the economy anyway.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:14 am
=== Yes, Wilson could take votes away from Lightfoot in the first round. But I’m not sure those voters would be with her anyway.===
This is a critical reality in this race for mayor.
You can’t beat someone with no one, but what Wilson is, as this underwhelming perennial candidate now, is be that magnet of negative for those voting displeasure for Lightfoot, and not much more.
The base voter of Wilson is the only voter for Wilson, that is unhappy with the current incumbent. No growth outside his small core.
If, (and/or when) Lightfoot gets in a runoff, they will know as a crew where not to mine for those voters
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:19 am
I’m a Chicago resident not originally from Chicago. My total knowledge of Willie Wilson is whatever small blurbs pop up about him during election time, and I never really even considered him as a ’serious’ candidate. His Trump/Rauner relationships are immediately disqualifying in my view.
However, I’d still like to learn more about him. Does anyone know of a reputable primer that can provide any information about any actual policy positions he’s previously stated?
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:20 am
Interested to read the names of those who were with him at the presser.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:34 am
He’s still got a long way to go to challenge Lar “America First” Daly for running losing campaigns, but at least he’s giving it a try.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:40 am
I suspect that Rauner/Trump connections won’t be as big of a deal in 2023.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:48 am
“Does anyone know of a reputable primer that can provide any information about any actual policy positions he’s previously stated?”
Policy is beside the point when he won’t confirm that he even accepts reality:
https://news.wttw.com/2022/04/11/willie-wilson-run-mayor-setting-rematch-lightfoot
I’m not sure what the answer to Chicago’s problems is — but a conspiracy theorist mayor ain’t it.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:49 am
interesting. can’t find a website for him but watched some of the presser he posted on Facebook and fast forwarded through the rest. It appears to take place at some place of a white woman and another white woman in a red dress starts the talk. they seem to have some kind of foreign accent, perhaps Russian or that region. there are a bunch of white women at the back of the event. it feels hired.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:50 am
The conservatives in this race are going to be taking votes from each other, giving Lori a gift. Especially if CTU demands a purity test from their candidate on the progressive side.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 9:51 am
Serious question: Does LL have a voter base?
I’m not sure she does. 2019 LL was a unknown reform candidate who appealed to many voters. 2022 LL is still an outsider, who doesn’t have the same appeal. At least Mr. Wilson seems to have more of a base of voters than LL.
Comment by Jockey Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:08 am
Wilson’s support for Rauner/Trump is a deal-breaker for me. I am also turned off by gas giveaways. I’d rather see a detailed plan to improve public transportation in Chicago and to decrease the need for driving. Better for the climate, better for the economy, better for traffic.
Comment by Terry Salad Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:12 am
==Does LL have a voter base?==
“Not Preckwinkle” won’t work this election cycle.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:14 am
== “Not Preckwinkle” won’t work this election cycle. ==
Not going to lie, that is why I voted for her. I’m definitely looking to do better this time around.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:18 am
To be fair in 2019 there were a lot of people in the race and he came in 4th or 5th ahead of State Comptroller Susanna Mendoza a sitting elected official statewide, Gery Chico, State Rep LaShawn Ford, Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown and many others–so it is not just the percentage or pure number but in comparison to others–he got more Black votes than Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot and won every Black ward but 2 and one changing ward.
Running for President was just plain stupid.
Running for US Senate could of made sense but not the way he did it and do nothing Durbin is not as popular as people think–it is wide but not deep.
Willie is popular and 2019 means he got more Black votes than any other candidate with a dozen candidates running including half of them Black candidates.
You have to look at the numbers, at least for Mayor, a bit deeper.
Comment by FedUpDem Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:27 am
I’m sure Maze Jackson and Dan Proft have already pitched Willie their proposal, which is guaranteed to win *this* time.
Comment by Chito Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:30 am
===You have to===
No, I don’t have to do that. But I’m sure a whole lot of reporters do feel that way in order to justify all the current and past coverage.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:33 am
===Serious question: Does LL have a voter base?===
I’ve posed that same question.
You can’t really go after her base, as her base is a hodge-podge of folks that seem engaging in things, but kinda silo Lightfoot into who they want, like “one issue” voters, but are missing the contradictory things that are Lightfoot.
As an incumbent, with a record, that might be a tough ask… then again, Lightfoot carried everything ward in the runoff, abd Preckwinkle and her “base” was beaten, soundly.
So I dunno then, or now, who these voters were/are
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 10:47 am
=“Does anyone know of a reputable primer that can provide any information about any actual policy positions he’s previously stated?”=
For at least 2 years, until about 6 months ago, he used to regularly advertise on his Sunday morning gospel program, on behalf of his foundation, that he supports black reparations and urged listeners to contact their alderman or state rep. This ad would repeat 2 or 3 times during the half hour. The ad has been pulled for at least 6 months, replaced with an ad for Wilson’s medical supply company. WGN recently introduced a new warning prior to airing his program that the views on the program do not represent NEXTAR. I assume this was in reaction to the reparations ads.
Comment by James Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 11:09 am
===Does LL have a voter base?===
My Magic Eight Ball says, “Ask again later, preferably after the candidates successfully file petitions.”
Lightfoot’s base will depend greatly upon who else is running. I think she has one, but it keeps shifting and changing in strange ways, and probably will continue like that right up until the election.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 11:09 am
where does all of Willie Wilson’s money come from?
I know the story he tells everyone about coming up and owning a few McDonalds. But has Omar Medical Supplies really been that successful?
He’s spent $12,000,000 on his campaigns since 2015 (not including donations to others). $1.2 million on gas. Those hundred dollar bills at church for property taxes. Was Omar Medical Supply that successful? never heard of it.
Comment by Whereisthemoney Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 11:19 am
Agree with 47th… as the old saying goes, you can’t beat somebody with nobody. Lightfoot’s chances depend on who else makes the ballot.
Also agree with those saying that Lightfoot has no base of voters to count on. And it seems she has been a disappointment to most people who voted for her.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 11:32 am
===Does LL have a voter base?===
It is the north side, if you look at the February 2019 election results, which is probably the best data available. WW seems to appeal to older, more socially conservative black voters mostly. He has a ceiling for sure, but he seems to make a group of voters unavailable by running.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 11:41 am
=== So I dunno then, or now, who these voters were/are === People that drink soda pop.
Comment by I think this is it Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 11:48 am
When is he scheduled to appear on Tucker Carlson’s show?
Comment by LoyalVirus Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 12:03 pm
“It is the north side, if you look at the February 2019 election results”
The Redline is the main transportation hub for north side residents and it is not the same Redline as in 2019. Not sure that plays into LL’s favor.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 12:23 pm
12:23 was me
Comment by Jockey Tuesday, Apr 12, 22 @ 12:24 pm