Crime Defeats Incumbent Mayor in Chicago

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson are headed to a runoff election on April 4 to become Chicago’s next mayor. Courtesy photos

Voters concerned about crime defeated an incumbent mayor in Chicago. Lori Lightfoot, known for a difficult personality, came in third in a nine person field with 17 percent of the vote, the first defeat for an incumbent in 40 years.

She was beaten by a law and order school superintendent favored by the police union, winning 34 percent of the vote, and a progressive school union official supported by the teachers union, who came in second with 20 percent.

In Denver’s upcoming mayor’s race, crime and homelessness have dominated. It is not clear who will get the edge on the left or the right of the issues. Denver, with a 17 person field, a third of the vote may be a landslide first place position in the likely runoff.