Chicago Elects Its First Black Female Mayor

Lori Lightfoot will succeed Rahm Emanuel
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 2, 2019 8:18 PM CDT
Chicago Elects Its First Black Female Mayor
In this March 24, 2019 photo, Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot participates in a candidate forum sponsored by One Chicago For All Alliance at Daley College in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Political newcomer Lori Lightfoot has been elected Chicago mayor, becoming the first black female—and openly gay—leader of the city. Lightfoot on Tuesday defeated Toni Preckwinkle, a former school teacher who served in the City Council for 19 years before becoming Cook County Board president in 2011. The 56-year-old Lightfoot is a former federal prosecutor who campaigned on ridding Chicago's government of corruption, reports the AP.

She also said she wanted to help low-income and working-class people she believes have been "left behind and ignored" by Chicago's political ruling class. Lightfoot and Preckwinkle were the top two vote-getters in the February general election that saw 14 vie to succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He decided against running for a third term. Lightfoot will be sworn in May 20.

(More Lori Lightfoot stories.)

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