2019 Chicago mayoral election
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| 2019 Chicago mayoral election | |
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| Election name | 2019 Chicago mayoral election |
| Country | United States |
| Type | mayoral |
| Previous election | 2015 Chicago mayoral election |
| Next election | 2023 Chicago mayoral election |
| Election date | February 26 and April 2, 2019 |
| Turnout | 35.0% (first round) |
| Title | Mayor |
| Before election | Rahm Emanuel |
| After election | Lori Lightfoot |
2019 Chicago mayoral election was a two-round, nonpartisan mayoral contest held in Chicago in 2019 that resulted in the election of Lori Lightfoot over Brandon Johnson in a runoff. The campaign followed the decision of incumbent Rahm Emanuel not to seek reelection and featured a crowded field including established figures such as Jaime Harrison-adjacent organizers, progressive activists like Chuy García, and business leaders like Paul Vallas. The contest intersected with debates over public safety, fiscal policy, and institutional reform across Chicago's neighborhoods and institutions such as the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Public Schools.
Background
The election occurred after Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced in September 2018 that he would not run for a third term, a decision shaped by controversies including the fallout from the Laquan McDonald shooting and strained relations with the Chicago Teachers Union and Cook County officials. Emanuel's tenure had intersected with citywide projects such as the 2016 Democratic National Convention infrastructure discussions, pension negotiations involving the Illinois General Assembly, and redevelopment efforts in neighborhoods like Pilsen and Bronzeville. The open seat attracted candidates from diverse institutional backgrounds, including former federal officials linked to the Obama administration, nonprofit leaders associated with Mijente-style organizing, and state legislators from the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate.
Candidates and campaigns
The field included former public officials and activists: Lori Lightfoot, a former Chicago Police Board chair and federal prosecutor; Brandon Johnson, a Chicago Teachers Union-aligned organizer and Cook County commissioner; Bill Daley, former White House Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama administration alumnus; Chuy García, U.S. Representative and former Cook County Board of Commissioners member; Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and superintendent of Philadelphia School District; Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; Amara Enyia, community organizer and former policy adviser in Chicago municipal programs; Garcia's allies including Jorge Ramirez-style local operatives; and lesser-known figures such as Ja'Mal Green and Gery Chico, former chairman of the City Colleges of Chicago board. Campaigns mobilized endorsements from institutions like the Chicago Tribune, labor organizations such as the Service Employees International Union, and political figures from the Illinois Democratic Party.
Primary election (first round)
The nonpartisan first round on February 26, 2019 featured more than twenty candidates. Voter turnout was closely watched after the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election and amid debates about voter engagement in Cook County precincts. Media outlets including the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and national broadcasters like CNN and The New York Times covered debates held at venues such as DePaul University and WTTW studios. Polling by firms connected to Nate Silver-style aggregators showed a fragmented electorate with García and Lightfoot polling competitively alongside Vallas and Preckwinkle. Key endorsements came from figures including Barack Obama-adjacent networks, union leaders from the Chicago Teachers Union and Service Employees International Union Local 1, and corporate backers from the Chicago Board of Trade-adjacent finance community. The first round produced a runoff between Lightfoot and Johnson after Lightfoot led a field that included established politicians and grassroots organizers.
Runoff election
The April 2, 2019 runoff between Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson intensified focus on endorsements from elected officials such as J.B. Pritzker, members of the Chicago City Council, and county leaders including Toni Preckwinkle. Campaign debates addressed policy areas involving the Chicago Police Department, fiscal measures tied to the Illinois Pension System, and education policy connected to Chicago Public Schools and charter networks. Media coverage from WBEZ, NPR, and The Washington Post framed the runoff as a choice between institutional reform represented by Lightfoot and labor-backed progressive change championed by Johnson. Fundraising reports filed with the Chicago Board of Elections showed disparate financial support, with Lightfoot raising significant sums from business and philanthropic networks associated with Chicago foundations and Johnson receiving in-kind support from labor and community organizations.
Issues and endorsements
Major issues included policing and public safety after the Laquan McDonald shooting and consent decree discussions involving the U.S. Department of Justice, education policy debates over Chicago Public Schools and charter expansion, and fiscal challenges tied to municipal pensions overseen in part by Cook County trustees. Endorsements played a significant role: Lightfoot secured backing from a coalition of Chicago Tribune editorial board readers, civic reform groups such as Good Government Illinois-type organizations, and several aldermen from the Chicago City Council, while Johnson received endorsements from the Chicago Teachers Union leadership, progressive caucuses within the Illinois House of Representatives, and community organizations rooted in neighborhoods like Hyde Park and South Side. National figures, including elected Democrats and advocacy groups, weighed in with varying degrees of support.
Results and aftermath
Lightfoot won the runoff handily, becoming Chicago's first Black female and openly gay mayor, succeeding Rahm Emanuel. Her victory drew commentary from political operatives connected to the Illinois Democratic Party, civic leaders from the MacArthur Foundation-adjacent philanthropy scene, and urban policy scholars at institutions like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. The administration faced immediate challenges involving negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union, implementation of police reforms linked to the consent decree overseen by federal courts, and budgetary matters involving Cook County fiscal coordination. The election influenced subsequent municipal politics including aldermanic alignments in the Chicago City Council and set the stage for policy debates leading into the 2023 Chicago mayoral election cycle.
Category:2019 elections in Illinois Category:Mayoral elections in Chicago