The former federal prosecutor, once considered a long-shot candidate, wins big
A YEAR AGO, most observers expected Rahm Emanuel, who was then amassing a big pile of campaign money, to win a third consecutive term as mayor of Chicago. Few dared oppose him. But in May 2018 Lori Lightfoot, a political outsider with few political connections, said she would take him on. At first Ms Lightfoot earned eye-rolls, not acclaim. She seemed unlikely to make it into a run-off election, let alone win it.
The biggest factor in that success was the candidate herself. Ms Lightfoot ran a disciplined campaign in which she appealed to a wide range of voters. Her signature issue was a promise to tackle corruption. She also vowed to reform the police force and reduce the violence that plagues poorer areas of Chicago. Her decision to run early, which meant she began campaigning in the summer, also paid off.
Ms Preckwinkle, despite being backed by several unions, did remarkably badly. She won more support from black voters on the South Side of the city. But two controversies ruined her chances. First, she has long been allied with a councillor on Chicago’s city council, Ed Burke, who was this year arrested and charged by the FBI with extortion. Only then did Ms Preckwinkle try to distance herself from Mr Burke, who had fundraised for her.
The symbolism of electing the first African American woman as mayor will help Chicago promote itself as open and welcoming to people of diverse backgrounds. But once the euphoria of the election is over, Ms Lightfoot faces some daunting challenges. An FBI probe of corruption in the city will continue, and the new mayor must deliver on promises to make institutional changes to cut powers for aldermen—as city councillors are known—and to bring more transparency to city government.
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