After finishing third in the Tuesday election, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot attributed her loss to her identity as a “Black woman in America.”
Despite facing eight challengers, she did not receive sufficient support to advance to the runoff election.
When asked by reporters if she believed she had been treated unfairly during the campaign, Lightfoot replied, “Of course I do. I’m a Black woman in America,” as reported.
“Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path,” Lightfoot said Tuesday night, adding that serving as Chicago’s mayor was “the honor of a lifetime.”
“I am a Black woman,” she told the magazine. “Let’s not forget: certain folks, frankly, don’t support us in leadership roles.”
Lori Lightfoot’s comments on election night were similar to remarks she made to the New Yorker over the preceding weekend. Many of Lightfoot’s detractors claim that her loss can be attributed to escalating crime rates, homelessness, and her strained relationship with law enforcement.
In 2021, Chicago experienced its highest homicide rates in 25 years, surpassing other cities known for high crime rates like New York City and Los Angeles. Following Lightfoot’s exit from the race, Paul Vallas, CEO of Chicago Public Schools and the city’s budget director, and Brandon Johnson, a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, will compete in the April 4 runoff election. Neither candidate received the required 50% of votes to secure a win on Tuesday, though Vallas came closest with 33%.
After Lightfoot’s loss, critics took to Twitter to celebrate.
“There is hope for my home city yet,” wrote Jonathan Turley, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. “Lori Lightfoot is out. The greatest potential improvement for the city since 1900 when the direction of the Chicago river was reversed.”
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