Incumbent Lori Lightfoot, the city's first Black lesbian mayor, conceded defeat the evening of Feb. 28, after a tumultuous term and a difficult election season, where she competed against eight challengers for her post.
"I stand here with my head held high and a heart full of gratitude," she told her supporters in a concession speech.
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas will be in a runoff contest when the mayoral contest is finally decided April 4, facing off against Cook County Board Commissioner Brandon Johnson.
As of 9 p.m. on Feb. 28, Vallas had captured 34.87% of the vote. Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson was a distant second, with 20.21% of the vote.
Lightfoot was in third place, with 16.4% of the vote as of publication. There were 1,173 out of 1,291 precincts reporting.
Despite Lightfoot's defeat, other LGBTQ+ candidates in aldermanic contests did make significant inroads Feb. 28.
All numbers come from City of Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, and are highly subject to change—city officials reported that thousands of mail-in ballots are still outstanding and will be tabulated through mid-March.
4th Ward: State Rep. Lamont Robinson, Jr., was leading the candidates' field with 46.71% as of press time, with 25 out of 28 precincts reporting. That won't be enough to avoid a run-off—as of publication, Robinson's likely opponent seemed to be either Prentice C. Butler or Ebony Lucas.
15th Ward: Incumbent Ald. Raymond Lopez had locked 65.65% of the votes, with 17 out of 20 precincts reporting, meaning he will avoid a runoff. Opponent Vicko Alvarez, also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, was in a distant second with 21.95%.
26th Ward: With 26 of 32 precincts reporting, Jessie Fuentes had secured about 54.44% of the vote, indicating that a runoff was unlikely.
33rd Ward: Incumbent Ald. Rosanna Rodriguez Sanchez had won 52.88% of the vote with 15 out of 17 precincts reporting, suggesting a runoff was unlikely.
35th Ward: Incumbent Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa ran unopposed.
43rd Ward: In a highly competitive race, incumbent Ald. Timmy Knudsen (27.27% of the vote), who has been in office since September 2022, seemed likely to have a runoff against Brian C. Comer (23.61%).
44th Ward: Bennett R. Lawson, longtime chief of staff to outgoing Ald. Tom Tunney ran unopposed, and will be taking over his boss' job in May.
46th Ward: With 20 out of 23 precincts reporting, longtime political operative Kim Walz (25.25%) seemed likely to be in a runoff against Angela Clay (36.68%).
48th Ward: Andersonville business owner Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (21.46%) seems likely to be in a runoff against Joe Dunne (27.87%). Another LGBTQ+ candidiate, Larry Svabek, got 6.41% of the vote. Thirty-four out 35 precincts were reporting.
49th Ward: With 16 of 17 precincts reporting, incumbent Maria Hadden had 73.79% of the vote, all but guaranteeing she won't have a runoff. Another LGBTQ+ candidate, Belia Rodriguez, won 16.73%.
Council for Chicago Police Department 19th District: Attorney Sam Schoenburg came in third of the six candidates, with 17.06% of the vote. Three members were to be chosen, so Schoenburg's position on the newly-created Council seems likely. Eighty-nine of 94 precincts had been counted.
