Paul Vallas, the top challenger in Chicago’s mayoral race to incumbent Lori Lightfoot (D), has earned enough votes to move to a runoff in April, the Associated Press reported Tuesday night.
Vallas, a former schools CEO who has been endorsed by the Chicago Police Union during an election cycle in which Lightfoot has been highly criticized for surging crime in the city, didn’t receive enough votes to win the contest outright. But he will face another candidate on April 4 in a two-person runoff. Lightfoot’s reelection bid appears to be in doubt as she was polling in third place just after 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Chicago’s mayoral race drew nationwide attention, not only for the city’s notoriety surrounding a rise in crime, immigration rates, and decline in education but because it involves an incumbent that is not on track to an easy victory.
CHICAGO MAYORAL RACE: TOP CONTENDERS AS ELECTION DAY APPROACHES
No incumbent has lost the mayorship in Chicago since 1989, when Richard M. Daley defeated then-Mayor Eugene Sawyer in the primary. Since 1840, 16 incumbents have lost their election either in the primary or general election, per the Chicago Public Library database.
Polls showed leading up to election day that Lightfoot would end up facing top contenders Vallas, Brandon Johnson, and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Her campaign has been fraught with controversy over her response to crime and the coronavirus pandemic.
A poll released Monday indicated that Lightfoot’s chances of reaching a runoff election were declining as support for Johnson continued to increase steadily. Polls showed Vallas in the lead, followed close behind by Johnson, and then Lightfoot trailing for third.
Vallas, who started off election day in the lead, had been gaining traction with voters throughout his campaign due to his prior experience in education and plans to address crime and city budgeting — all areas Lightfoot in which has been blasted for her approach over her years as mayor.
Johnson’s popularity began to increase steadily in the last few months leading up to the election, with the candidate leaning on his experiences living in the West Side of Chicago. Lightfoot targeted Johnson specifically in her last ad campaigns, saying he would raise taxes and drive businesses out of Chicago.
Other candidates, such as Garcia, latched on to the city’s rising crime rate as a way to garner support. Garcia said during his campaign that he planned to restructure the policing system to free officers from administrative tasks and assign them to fighting crime.
Throughout the election cycle, Lightfoot was criticized for running smear campaigns and attack ads rather than addressing the concerns raised by constituents.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Election results may not be called for a few days past Tuesday given the large number of mail-in ballots requested. Election officials have said they hope to certify the results by March 15, with a deadline of March 21.
Voters can also expect recounts from many candidates, including Lightfoot, if she does not make the runoff in the initial result announcement. Recounts may not occur until two to three weeks post-election day.
