Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for a second term in office after failing to secure enough votes to advance to the runoff on Tuesday.
Lightfoot now becomes the first Chicago mayor to lose a bid for reelection in 40 years, the Associated Press.
She conceded defeat Tuesday night at her party in downtown Chicago, saying, “Obviously, we didn’t win the election today, but I stand here with my head held high.”
Lightfoot’s first term in office saw a massive spike in crime as she focused on ‘woke’ issues’ rather than dealing with issues affecting the people of Chicago.
“Lori has had her chance. Since Lori Lightfoot has been in office, it seems like crime has gotten worse,” 45-year-old Chicago resident Lonnell Jolly told the Associated Press.
Lightfoot’s Chicago recorded 723 murders in 2022.
A 95 percent increase in vehicle thefts, a 50 percent increase in theft, and a ten percent increase in burglary and robbery.
The massive crime wave spilled into 2023, with the first homicide accruing just 90 minutes into the New Year.
Lightfoot’s unfavorable ratings became more apparent after Chicagoans began getting fed up with gun violence, as well as carjackings and robberies.
She routinely failed to lead in recent polling, falling behind Vallas and Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, despite being the sitting mayor.
In 2021, Chicago recorded the most killings in a quarter-century, 797, and more than 3,500 shootings, 1,400 more than were recorded in 2019.
Local radio host Ray Stevens summed up Lightfoot’s impending fate by simply stating, “I think Lori’s time is up.”
“Personally, I don’t [think she can pull off this race], but I’ve been wrong before as the polls have in the past,” he said earlier in the segment.
Stevens added that race would boil down to key issues like crime, not skin color or gender.
“Chicago has a rampant crime problem, and not only is it in Chicago, but its has reached the collar counties… crime, crime is going to be the issue in this election and, personally, what I’m hearing from my constituents, from listeners, is that it will come down to [Paul] Vallas [or] Brandon Johnson.”
Source: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid for Second Term