Update 4/4/23 8:30PM PT: Brandon Johnson Wins Mayoral Election with 51.4% of the Vote – 286,647 Votes to Paul Vallas’ 48.6%.
Original Article: Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas are in a close race, and it’s still unclear who will win. The 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election Runoff is on April 6, and it will determine who will be the mayor for the next four years. This election is crucial for Chicago as it will choose its new mayor.
The election night results came from Northwestern University’s Marriott Marquis Chicago Hotel, with Paul Vallas getting 251,415 votes and Brandon Johnson reporting 258,594. This was according to a second nonpartisan poll showing the two candidates neck and neck in the race. The finish line was close, with only 7179 more votes for Johnson than Vallas. The runoff election between Johnson and Vallas is incredibly tight, but no matter who wins, they will surely bring something new to Chicago. The current polls show that it could go either way, as both candidates have strong support from their constituents. Whoever wins this runoff election will be chosen as Chicago’s next mayor and will shape the future of one of America’s most populous cities for years to come.
Paul Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Schools and a moderate Democrat, supports Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, endorsed by multiple public sector unions such as the Chicago Teachers Union and serves as a Cook County Commissioner. A recent poll has given Vallas a slim lead of 51.45 percent to Garcia’s 48.55 percent. Former mayor Harold Washington endorsed Garcia, who was also a teacher union organizer in the past. The Chicago Police Union and Teachers Union have also supported him. On the other hand, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s endorsement of Vallas has caused some friction between him and his former allies in the teachers union.
With nine candidates in the crowded field, many voters are doing their homework and studying the two mayoral candidates. On election day, February 28, many Chicago politicians were present to greet voters and honor the day tradition. Manny’s Deli was a popular spot for breakfast as people went to vote. Lightfoot and Vallas are currently leading in polls in the final weeks before the election.
The Chicago Sun Times has reported that it is likely that these two candidates will continue to receive votes and advance to the runoff election. In addition to the mayor race, other 2023 Chicago elections will take place on Election Day, including races for City Clerk and City Treasurer, Police District Councils, and many others. On Election Night, Lori Lightfoot hosted a party in her honor at her campaign headquarters, while Paul Vallas held his event at a different venue.
The Chicago Board of Elections has reported that 1,592,894 registered voters have filed petitions to cast 503,382 total ballots. This puts the turnout at 33.2%, a notable increase from previous elections.