Historic Election in Chicago. Who Will Be The Next Mayor?

Election day is finally here, and not matter who wins today's mayoral runoff Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle have already made history. Both women were out on the streets making one final push to convince voters they're the best one for the job.

Turnout is projected to be low, at around 35 percent, the same as the February election. Most Chicagoans say they just can't decide between the two powerful leaders.

Lori Roper, who’s voting in the runoff, says this is a win-win situation.On one side, there’s Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who decided to run for mayor after Rahm Emanuel announced he would not seek re-election.

Preckwinkle has the support of dozens of African American pastors and unions, including the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union. A large portion of Preckwinkle’s campaign funds have come from unions. Lori Lightfoot has presented herself as the change Chicago needs.

Lightfoot is the first openly lesbian candidate to run for mayor in Chicago history. She announced she was running after Mayor Emanuel assigned her two policing boards. Lightfoot has publicly been a huge critic of how the Chicago Police Department is currently working and wants to reform the agency.Despite their differences, both women have labeled and campaigned themselves as progressives with different strategies to "fix" Chicago.

Some don't think either candidate has the credentials. Reverend Lamar Van Howard says Preckwinkle doesn't have plans to make Chicago better. He mentions the pop tax, which he says mainly affects the African American community.

04/02/19 10:03AM