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Chicago election coverage roundup

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* Lots of news…

* CBS Chicago | Brandon Johnson wins race for mayor; Paul Vallas concedes in tight election: “They said this would never happen. So, you know, if they didn’t know, now they know,” Johnson said at his victory rally Tuesday night. “To the Chicagoans who did not vote for me, here’s what I want you to know; that I care about you, I value you, and I want to hear from you. I want to work with you, and I’ll be the mayor for you too, because this campaign has always been about building a better, stronger, safer Chicago for all the people of Chicago.”

* Forbes | Progressive Brandon Johnson Elected As Chicago Mayor, Beating Paul Vallas In Crime-Focused Race: In his concession speech, Vallas said the result clearly illustrates the “city is deeply divided,” stressing that “public safety is a fundamental right.”

* Fox Chicago | VIDEO: Paul Vallas addresses supporters after AP projects Brandon Johnson as next Chicago mayor: Vallas spoke to his supporters after the Associated Press projected Brandon Johnson as the next mayor of Chicago. Vallas says it is critically important for the city to unite at this time.

* Sun-Times | What can we expect from Brandon Johnson — Chicago’s next mayor: Johnson’s original plan included closing the CPD’s Homan Square facility, streamlining “non-sergeant” positions and ending a $33 million contract with ShotSpotter. He planned to cut $150 million from CPD’s budget as mayor.

* Tribune | Brandon Johnson will be Chicago’s next mayor. He will face a slew of challenges, from crime to schools to city finances.: Under Lightfoot, City Hall has made real strides in shoring up city finances, but the mayor’s budget office and outside experts project a deficit between $500 million and $600 million heading into 2024. And Johnson almost certainly won’t have a cushion of federal funds to rely on.

* Sun-Times | Brandon Johnson is Chicago’s new mayor. So what’s next for CPS?: Martinez’s first 19 months on the job has aligned with Johnson’s vision for CPS. Martinez has attempted to centralize some staffing to ensure every school — no matter its enrollment — has art teachers, reasonable class sizes, limited split-grade classes and other vital resources. Johnson has vowed to take that work further by securing more funding for the district, which is also a goal of Martinez’s. Johnson would have plenty of names in mind if he chose a new CEO having been entrenched in the city’s education world for a decade and a half.

* Crain’s | What’s next for Mayor-elect Johnson — and Chicago?: Unless something hugely unexpected occurs with late-arriving mail ballots — Johnson leads 51%-49%, and that lead is expected to widen as more votes trickle in — Chicago has decided to go in a dramatically different direction, one with huge implications for public safety policy, the city’s tax structure and a business community skittish about Johnson.

* Sun-Times | Long to-do list looms for new Mayor Johnson: Two weeks after the new mayor is sworn in, Memorial Day weekend arrives. Over the years, it typically has been among the most violent weekends in Chicago and the start of the traditional summer surge of bloodshed. Brown’s abrupt decision to high-tail it back to Dallas just days after Lightfoot’s fourth-place finish left the Chicago Police Department in a tough spot. His hand-picked first deputy, now Acting Supt. Eric Carter, will try to keep Chicago safe over the holiday weekend.

* WTTW | ‘Slow and Sleepy’ Chicago Voting Totals on Par With February Election Turnout: Voter turnout sat at 33.2% when polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with 530,382 ballots cast, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. That’s compared to 32.1% turnout for the Feb. 28 election, with 507,852 ballots cast by 7 p.m. that day.

* Chalkbeat | Brandon Johnson defeats Paul Vallas: Johnson’s win marks a stunning achievement in the grassroots movement started by Chicago Teachers Union leadership roughly a decade ago to focus on issues beyond the classroom, such as affordable housing, public health, environmental justice, and police reform.

* Crain’s | Progressives and sitting aldermen clinch City Council runoff victories: Keeping the momentum that began in the Feb. 28 primary, three candidates backed by the United Working Families political organization, affiliated with the Chicago Teachers Union, won contests for three open seats despite hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent on ads criticizing the aldermanic hopefuls as too radical for Chicago.

* Geoffrey Cubbage | The Chicago City Council has new committees. Now it’s time to reform their staffing.: Thursday’s council session did not include budget amendments, meaning the funding and the staffing for the new committees have yet to be determined. The City Council has an opportunity here to eliminate the long-standing practice of letting individual committee chairs control the hiring, firing and supervision of committee staff members and replace it with a centralized model of professional support staff that serves the council as a whole body.

* Block Club | Here’s How Your Neighborhood Voted In the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election: Johnson saw his support grow tremendously between the elections. He claimed a huge swathe of the South Side, the West Side and large portions of the North Side — including taking precincts that Vallas had won in the Feb. 28 election.

* Block Club | Chicago’s Getting 13 New Alderpeople. Meet Your Next City Council: Among the new crop of alderpeople is Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), the first Filipina alderperson in Chicago’s history, and Jessie Fuentes, the first queer Latina to lead the 26th Ward. The 21st Ward’s Ronnie Mosley is a longtime organizer who said his work stretches back to his birth: He was named for a cousin of his mother’s who was killed just before he was born; now, he wants to prioritize changes to improve public safety.

* Tribune | State Rep. Lamont Robinson set to become next alderman of the 4th Ward on the South Side: Butler conceded Tuesday night. “I appreciate the time of service in the 4th Ward the last 12 years. I’m looking forward to the next phase, the next step of life,” he said. “I’ve learned so much in this campaign, and I thank the community for giving me the opportunity to serve the past decade.”

* Block Club | Rep. Lamont Robinson Wins 4th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Sophia King: “Tomorrow starts a new day in the 4th Ward to continue to build on the seeds that have been planted and also to water some new seeds,” Robinson said. “Today we celebrate, tomorrow the work begins.”

* Block Club | Desmon Yancy Wins 5th Ward Seat To Represent Area Around Obama Presidential Center: Yancy plans to push for legislation that addresses the root causes of community violence within his first 100 days in City Council, he told Block Club outside his election party in Jeffery Plaza, 2101 E. 71st St. He also “wants to meet with everybody” before taking office, including representatives from the South Shore and Hyde Park chambers of commerce, the Workers Center for Racial Justice, the Neighborhood Network Alliance and the South Shore Compact, he said.

* Block Club | William Hall Declares Victory In 6th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Roderick Sawyer: “I am overjoyed, overwhelmed and grateful for every volunteer and voter,” Hall said. “In the 6th Ward, we’re fighting for a safer community, greater schools, and thriving businesses.” Sawyer, who has led the ward since 2011, gave up his seat in an unsuccessful bid for mayor. Hall will be sworn in at City Council on May 15.

* Block Club | Peter Chico Wins 10th Ward Seat To Represent Southeast Side: “To those of you who voted for me — and there were a lot — thank you. I will work hard for you every day,” Chico said during his victory speech Tuesday at Crow Bar, 4001 E. 106th St. in East Side. “To those of you who didn’t vote for me, I will be your alderman too, and I will work with you every single day.”

* Tribune | Chicago cop Peter Chico to become the next alderman of the Southeast Side’s 10th Ward: Chico held a big lead in the head-to-head contest to represent the Hegewisch and East Side neighborhoods. With 96% of precincts reporting, he had 60% of the vote, to 40% for Guajardo, according to unofficial results from the Chicago Board of Elections.

* Fox Chicago | Nicole Lee first Chinese American elected to City Council: Ald. Nicole Lee has been elected as the first Chinese American in Chicago’s City Council, and the first woman ever elected in the 11th Ward.

* Block Club | Ald. Nicole Lee Wins 1st Full Term To Represent City’s First Asian-Majority Ward: Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) hung onto her City Council seat after prevailing in Tuesday’s runoff election. With all 23 precincts reporting Tuesday night, the incumbent held 61.7 percent of the vote to Chicago Police officer Anthony Ciaravino’s 38.2 percent, sealing Lee’s first full term.

* ABC Chicago | Nicole Lee beats Tony Ciaravino for 11th Ward city council seat: Lee was appointed in 2022 after previous Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson was convicted on federal corruption charges.

* Block Club | Community Organizer Ronnie Mosley Wins 21st Ward Runoff To Replace Ald. Howard Brookins: “I am honored to have been elected alderman of the 21st Ward,” Mosley said in a statement. “This was a groundswell campaign that was built on a shared vision, and I’m incredibly thankful to the voters, volunteers, endorsers and staff who made this a winning campaign. Now our goal is to bring everyone together so we can build our community with business growth, resources for youth and seniors, and smart solutions for public safety.”

* Block Club | Ald. Monique Scott Wins 24th Ward Race, Keeping West Side Ward In The Family: At an election night party Downtown, Monique Scott thanked her supporters Tuesday night — and vowed to revive the West Side. “On this day in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated and a day later, we burned the West Side to the ground,” she told supporters. “We have been disinvested in ever since. Starting today, we are going to reclaim and revive this community.”

* ABC Chicago | 29th Ward race between Chris Taliaferro, CB Johnson too close to call: “Hopefully there will be a resolution tonight, because we had enough overtime,” challenger CB Johnson said. “But let me tell you, I’m an old ball player - I played baseball for many years - anytime you went to extra innings, you work, you win. And we did the work.”

* Block Club | West Side’s 29th Ward Too Close To Call With Ald. Chris Taliaferro Narrowly Ahead: Taliaferro previously said he was shifting his focus to public safety as his “No. 1 priority” after hearing voters voice it as their top concern in the Feb. 28 election. The incumbent said he supports Brandon Johnson’s idea to hire and promote 200 detective to deter crime by solving more cases. Preventing crime also requires a “holistic approach” and addressing root causes through actions like “providing jobs and mental health resources,” Taliaferro previously said.

* Block Club | Ruth Cruz Narrowly Wins 30th Ward Runoff To Replace Retiring Ald. Ariel Reboyras: With all 26 precincts reporting Tuesday night, Cruz held 51.52 percent of the vote to Jessica Gutiérrez’s 48.48 percent. The newly redrawn Northwest Side ward includes portions of Belmont Cragin, Irving Park, Portage Park and Avondale.

* Block Club | Ald. Gil Villegas Wins Reelection To Represent Northwest Side’s ‘Pool Noodle’ 36th Ward: With all 27 precincts reporting Tuesday night, Villegas held 58.1 percent of the vote to challenger Lori Torres Whitt’s 42 percent, securing Villegas’ third term in City Council.

* Block Club | Ald. Timmy Knudsen Declares Victory In Lincoln Park’s 43rd Ward:
“We left everything on the table and look where we landed,” Knudsen said. “I was beyond humbled to be appointed to this position as the first LGBTQ aldermen in the 43rd Ward and the youngest member of Chicago City Council.” Knudsen was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in September after Ald. Michele Smith abruptly retired. Smith supported Knudsen in the runoff after criticizing him in the Feb. 28 election for having ties to Lightfoot, who appointed him chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals before giving him the alderman’s office.

* Block Club | Ald. Jim Gardiner Wins Reelection In Far Northwest Side’s 45th Ward: Gardiner thanked his supporters and volunteers “This is still a grassroots operation. It has been since 2019,” he said. “This is not about proving our detractors wrong; it’s about proving our supporters right.”

* CBS Chicago | Ald. James Gardiner: ‘This first four years of me being an alderman, I’ve learned’: After winning reelection in the 45th Ward, Ald. Gardiner spoke with CBS 2’s Sabrina Franza – in the first time CBS 2 has spoken with him in multiple attempts.

* Block Club | Angela Clay Wins Uptown’s 46th Ward Race, Despite Big Money Against Her From Outside Groups: Clay will replace Cappleman, who is retiring from City Council after three terms. She emerged from a six-person race to become the ward’s next alderperson after a tough and closely watched runoff election. Clay challenged Cappleman in the 2019 race and came in fourth out of six candidates. At her victory party Tuesday night, Clay said special interests spent $250,000 opposing her candidacy — but voters saw through the outside noise.

* Block Club | Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth Wins 48th Ward Race In Upset: With all 35 precincts reporting Tuesday night, Manaa-Hoppenworth held 51.89 percent of the vote to Joe Dunne’s 48.11 percent. Manaa-Hoppenworth was ahead by about 600 votes.

* Block Club | Big Wins, Shocking Defeats And Lots Of ‘I Voted’ Stickers: Scenes From Election Day In Chicago: Check out photos from the night.

posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 1:10 pm

Comments

What are the odds Vallas’ apartment lease expires this week?

Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 1:17 pm
It’s the well organized…who win.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 1:48 pm
Karen Lewis plays the long game.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 2:02 pm
Historic,powerful victory

Comment by Sup Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 2:21 pm
Remember when the South Side had a Mayor, a Speaker, a Senate President (or two or three)? The West side/inner Western burbs has a Mayor, a Speaker and a Senate President. Extreme power shift.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 2:55 pm
Will they be an online tracker for the 1,000 police officers leaving the force?

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 2:59 pm
Now we get to see if Johnson can deliver on his campaign promises

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 3:26 pm
==Now we get to see if Johnson can deliver on his campaign promises==

Nope. His budget relies heavily on ideas that will not pass the IL General Assembly, the Chicago business community and City Council. His LaSalle St Tax will send CBOE & CME to the suburbs, IL Gen Assembly will not permit a city income tax and companies will balk at a monthly head tax by threatening to move to the ‘burbs.

Budget cuts and property tax, here we come.

Comment by Old IL Dude Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 3:40 pm
===Budget cuts and property tax, here we come.===

Same as Vallas, actually… less the pandering to the Right and anger towards education… but the same, *all* the same.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 3:45 pm
==Nope. His budget relies heavily on ideas that will not pass the IL General Assembly, the Chicago business community and City Council. ==

We’ll see. I suspect there will be some desire within the GA to give a new Chicago mayor a win, and I don’t think it’s easy to predict how the city council is going to exercise its newfound independence.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 4:07 pm
==Same as Vallas, actually… less the pandering to the Right and anger towards education… but the same, *all* the same.==

IOW, Brandon Johnson can’t deliver on his campaign promises.

Comment by Old IL Dude Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 4:50 pm
===The West side/inner Western burbs has a Mayor, a Speaker and a Senate President. Extreme power shift.===

Austin, Hillside, and Oak Park are definitely three very different places.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 5:04 pm
===Brandon Johnson can’t deliver on his campaign promises.===

Voters didn’t want Paul Vallas.

:)

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 5:06 pm
==His budget relies heavily on ideas …==

At the very least he is going to need a top notch IGA team in Chicago and Springfield. People that know their way around from Day 1.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 5:10 pm
===At the very least he is going to need a top notch IGA team in Chicago and Springfield. People that know their way around from Day 1.===

Funny you say that I had the very same idea.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 5:26 pm
Vallas has plans: https://www.theonion.com/defeated-paul-vallas-announces-plan-to-open-new-charter-1850289471

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 5:35 pm
@Three Dimensional Checkers, you know Brandon worked for Harmon, right?

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 5, 23 @ 9:49 pm