This year's mayoral/aldermanic elections featured a record number of openly LGBT candidates thorughout Illinois. From those races, several of those individuals are vying for various political offices in the April 2 runoff elections. Listed alphabetically, they are:
James Cappleman
Race: Alderman ( 46th Ward )
Website: https://www.citizensforcappleman.com/
The skinny: A former teacher, social worker, and health care non-profit leader, Cappleman has represented the ward since 2011. In the runoff, he faces Marianne Lalonde.
Lori Lightfoot
Race: Mayor
Website: https://lightfootforchicago.com/
The skinny: Lightfoot stands to make history if she wins her runoff election against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, becoming Chicago's first African-American lesbian mayor. Lightfoot has served as senior equity partner in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution Group at Mayer Brown LLP as well as chair of the Police Accountability Task Force. She has secured several endorsements, including support from the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.
Raymond Lopez
Race: Alderman ( 15th Ward )
Website: http://www.the15thward.org/
The skinny: Lopez is facing Rafael "Rafa" Yanez in the runoff. He was elected as Chicago's 15th Ward alderman on April 7, 2015.
Deb Mell
Race: Alderman ( 33rd Ward )
Website: https://www.debfor33.com/
The skinny: Mell, a member of the City Council's LGBT Caucus along with four others, is a former Illinois state representative. She was a member of Equal Marriage Now in the mid-2000s and participated in protest actions that led to her arrest in front of the Cook County headquarters. Mell faces Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez in what many expect to be a close runoff election.