Tuesday spelled the end of Daley hegemony over Chicago politics, at least for now.
In a field of 13 other candidates, the largest in Chicago’s 181-year history, voters rejected William “Bill” Daley’s election bid. Daley served as former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff from 2011 to 2012, but he is better known in the city for his last name.
The Daley family has a long legacy in Chicago Democratic politics. His father, Richard J. Daley, served as mayor from 1955 to 1976 and his brother, Richard M. Daley, now 76, was Chicago’s longest serving mayor, in office from 1989 to 2011.
Instead of sticking with a name that led the city for a combined 43 years, Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle, two black women, emerged as the biggest vote-getters Tuesday, though neither candidate broke the 50-percent threshold to win outright.
Lightfoot received 17.5 percent of the vote and Preckwinkle got 16 percent. Daley got third place with 14.8 percent.
Lightfoot, 56, is a former federal prosecutor and served as president of the Chicago Police Board. If elected on April 2, she would also be the first openly gay mayor of Chicago. Lightfoot ran on a platform of rejecting “machine” politics, with a focus on improving poorer neighborhoods in the city. She has never served in elected office.
Preckwinkle, 71, has been involved in Chicago politics for years and is the first black woman to lead the Cook County Democrats. She drew a base of support from organized labor and received the endorsement of the Chicago Teacher’s Union.
After it was clear the two women would be heading to a runoff, Daley conceded the election, noting that “tonight’s results were not what we hoped.”
Tonight’s results were not what we hoped. But we cannot dwell on what could have been. We must look forward to how we can help shape our city’s future. Chicago is a part of me. It always will be. While I may not be its next mayor, I won’t stop fighting to move our city forward.
— Bill Daley (@DaleyForMayor) February 27, 2019
Lightfoot pointed out the historic nature of the election Tuesday night to a group of supporters.
“So what do you think of us now?” she said. “… This, my friends, is what change looks like.”
Lightfoot congratulated Preckwinkle on making the runoff vote. She said that “Chicago will make history” when it goes to the polls to decide between two black women. “It’s long overdue.”
Congratulations to @ToniForChicago on making it to the runoff election. No matter which one of us wins, Chicago will make history on April 2nd by electing the first Black woman mayor. It’s long overdue.
— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) February 27, 2019
Preckwinkle also noted the significant nature of the election as she cast her vote on Tuesday. “This is a historic moment for the city,” she said. “I am proud of the work of my campaign.”
Rahm Emanuel, the current mayor, announced that he would not run for reelection in September.
Voters will choose between Lightfoot and Preckwinkle on April 2.
