By Staff
@redlineproject
In a wide-open race for mayor and several vacant aldermanic races, the Chicago Municipal elections on Tuesday had plenty of drama. Here’s a rundown of social media coverage from Red Line Project reporters, tweets from candidates and posts other Chicago media from the election. Several races are headed to a runoff election on April 4 with the top two vote-getters.
Slideshow: Photos from the election night parties
Mayor’s Race
In his speech, Paul Vallas vows to make #Chicago the “safest city in America.” Crime was a big issue in the #chimayor23 race, and Vallas was backed by the police union. pic.twitter.com/eisY5zp7p3
— The Red Line Project (@redlineproject) March 1, 2023
“This city has never really been the city that works for everyone, but it will be when I am mayor” #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/gBn4W62UIe
— Brian Chan (@BrianBChan1) March 1, 2023
Just now @PaulVallas ” I haven’t been this happy since my son returned from Afghanistan”
Congratulations! #ChiMayor23— Tina Issa 🇺🇸 (@tinaissa) March 1, 2023
The Associated Press has called the #chimayor23 race for Paul Vallas to make the April 4 runoff election. Whom will he face?
Brandon Johnson still leads incumbent Lori Lightfoot by 4 percentage points. #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/HP4NNSnsqB
— The Red Line Project (@redlineproject) March 1, 2023
BREAKING: (AP) Paul Vallas, former schools CEO backed by police union, advances to runoff for Chicago mayor; opponent not yet decided#ChiMayor23 #APRaceCall
— Stephen Ohlemacher (@stephenatap) March 1, 2023
Incumbent Lori Lightfoot concedes the #chimayor23 race at 8:45 p.m. CT. She becomes the first incumbent not to make the runoff since it was implemented in 1999.
— The Red Line Project (@redlineproject) March 1, 2023
Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García @ChuyChicago says he will NOT concede tonight, citing mail-in ballots #ChiMayor23
— Megan Hawkins (@meganhawkinsabc) March 1, 2023
Vallas Election Party attendees are conversing while enjoying drinks and appetizers. #uicdigital #ChiMayor23 pic.twitter.com/aud7Sq8OW4
— Lulu Anjanette (@lanjan2_lulu) March 1, 2023
Full house tonight at Vallas Election Party #uicdigital #ChiMayor23 pic.twitter.com/A11o2pTYSZ
— Lulu Anjanette (@lanjan2_lulu) March 1, 2023
Supporters at Vallas Election Party chant Vallas’s name as he advances to April runoff #uicdigital #ChiMayor23 pic.twitter.com/fP9oPrOs4K
— Lulu Anjanette (@lanjan2_lulu) March 1, 2023
At the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council building, where @LoriLightfoot election night event will be taking place. @redlineproject staff is being denied entrance to cover the event. #chimayor #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/qJJpR4UIIY
— Laaiba (@LaaibaMahmood) March 1, 2023
Brandon’s supporters rallying and cheering for him! The energy here has been so joyful! #uicdigital #election @BrandonCCD1 @Brandon4Chicago pic.twitter.com/WhjHMOd1mi
— Karlie Sanchez (@sanchez_karlie) March 1, 2023
Election night party for Brandon Johnson at El Palais Bu-Sche starting off with some throwback 90’s songs, and an open bar. #uicdigital #election pic.twitter.com/8Zre9fa5j8
— Karlie Sanchez (@sanchez_karlie) March 1, 2023
Dance parties all around the election party! #uicdigital #election pic.twitter.com/f0lHjJwv3e
— Karlie Sanchez (@sanchez_karlie) March 1, 2023
A celebration no matter what. #uicdigital #ChuyGarcia #ChiMayor23 pic.twitter.com/MegaiVR5jT
— Manny Meraz (@mannyfromwicker) March 1, 2023
“To the voters of Chicago- thank you for believing in our vision. I still think it’s a very strong vision.”
Sophia King in her concession speech here this evening
“I’ve learned a lot on this journey…mostly from all of you and people I’ve met along the way.” @cbschicago https://t.co/txzWHJOZFF
— Tara Molina (@TaraMolinaTV) March 1, 2023
@kambucknerchi quoting Nelson Algren in tonight’s speech from campaign HQ, as he talks about Chicago loving you back. Powerful and memorable. #ChiElection #ChiMayor23 #ChicagoElection @WBEZ
— Michael O’Shea (@chicagoshea) March 1, 2023
I said it and I meant it. https://t.co/9z8YMCGCxk
— Lori Lightfoot (@LoriLightfoot) February 28, 2023
Candidate for mayor Paul Vallas is reacting after Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched an election-eve attack on him. https://t.co/TDKjw7lmFa
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) February 28, 2023
Millions of dollars have been poured into Chicago’s mayoral race.
See the latest campaign finance records for each candidate below.https://t.co/TpoeukY3vo
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) February 28, 2023
While Paul Vallas has touted his education record, his opponents say he helped create Chicago schools’ current financial problems.
✍️: @chalkbeatCHI reports: https://t.co/32qoqn0WPb
— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) February 28, 2023
Lori Lightfoot, who made history as the first Black woman and first gay person to be elected mayor of Chicago, is asking voters to add one more first to her resume: the first woman to be reelected as Chicago mayor. @wttw https://t.co/Qsebsnxdzu
— Heather Cherone (@HeatherCherone) February 28, 2023
In Chicago, we do church and Black joy on Election Day! #Punch5 #BrandonIsBetter pic.twitter.com/SXZHH3qlk7
— Punch 5 for Brandon Johnson! (@Brandon4Chicago) February 28, 2023
Aldermanic Races
46th Ward: Angela Clay expresses gratitude to contenders Lalonde, Cortez, Williams and Nagle and their voters, for taking part in Democracy.
“I will do whatever I can to earn your support in the next five weeks.”#uicdigital #ChicagoElection #ChiMayor23 @ClayFor46 pic.twitter.com/oZA3X7YkkE
— Ricardo Brum (@rabrum2) March 1, 2023
46th Ward Race: .@ClayFor46 leads with 37.29% as 82.61% of Precincts are Reporting. Celebratory Mood for Supporters at @FatCatChicago , who yell “We did it!”#uicdigital pic.twitter.com/strMXCjMcU
— Ricardo Brum (@rabrum2) March 1, 2023
More than 30 minutes after ending her speech, Angela Clay is still hugging and talking to supporters. @ClayFor46 #uicdigital #ChiMayor23 #ChicagoElections pic.twitter.com/dXuNWlO26g
— Ricardo Brum (@rabrum2) March 1, 2023
“1-2-3 to Victory!” says Angela Clay, as front-runner for the 46th Ward, standing at more than 10 percentage points ahead of the contenders. #uicdigital #ChicagoElection pic.twitter.com/Yi2TaVu9cm
— Ricardo Brum (@rabrum2) March 1, 2023
Crowd’s Euphoric at @ClayFor46 ‘s Watch Party #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/Zm3cvDgqrA
— Ricardo Brum (@rabrum2) March 1, 2023
The sun is shining bright on the City of Chicago today ☀️ a new day is on the horizon with @Brandon4Chicago and future 46 Ward Alderperson Angela Clay 🧡 pic.twitter.com/YvhS6lPaHH
— Neighbors For Angela Clay (@ClayFor46) February 28, 2023
Incumbent Timmy Knudsen, a Lori Lightfoot appointee, leads voting in the 43rd Ward. Brian Comer has a 4 percentage point lead over Rebecca Janowitz for second place. The top two candidates will head to an April 4 runoff. pic.twitter.com/ydSIgk7vre
— The Red Line Project (@redlineproject) March 1, 2023
Incumbent Daniel La Spata in a comfortable lead in the 1st Ward. If he gets over 50%, he’s elected tonight and there will be no runoff. pic.twitter.com/eHOUuzqI4i
— The Red Line Project (@redlineproject) March 1, 2023
@AldermanLaSpata supporters gather at Subterranean Bar in Wicker Park and enjoy food, drinks and music as they await the results of the 1st Ward Election. #chicagoelections #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/v9HMeiN2sI
— Brielle Conwell (@BrielleCon) March 1, 2023
Voter Turnout and Polling Places
Chicago Voter Turnout as of 5:00pm on Election Day:
444,731 total ballots cast
1,581,564 Registered Voters in Chicago
28.1% total citywide turnout so far
🗳️🧵— Chicago Board of Elections (@ChicagoElection) February 28, 2023
This morning, voter turnout at polling places was slower than in 2019.
According to Max Bever with Chicago Board of Elections, this may be due to “a historic amount of voters opting to either vote early in-person or by mail.”
Live blog: https://t.co/w9ACxZRXYW https://t.co/QKY2cIXCf2
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) February 28, 2023
Chicagoans set an early voting record for the mayoral election. But election day voting?
“Sluggish. … We seem to be consistently 8,000-10,000 less voters per hour compared to 2019,” per @ChicagoElection‘s Max Bever. @chicagotribune with the update:https://t.co/gPmEOw7Nkp
— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) February 28, 2023
Sluggish turnout so far for #ChiMayor23
6-8K less per hour compared to 2019. “Quite shocking to see” @maxrbever @ChicagoElection— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) February 28, 2023
Early voter turnout for Chicago’s 2023 municipal election has broken records, according to election officials. https://t.co/zblg2QazGE
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) February 28, 2023
Workers at the voting polls in Pilsen have shared that voting has been slow, and hoping it picks up in the afternoon! #mayoralelections2023 #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/53Mox5Pp5j
— Karlie Sanchez (@sanchez_karlie) February 28, 2023
Older voters drive turnout in early, mail-in voting in Chicago https://t.co/Oo6XmXQ9Ly pic.twitter.com/Du8rQ9tbv7
— CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) February 28, 2023
46th Ward voting precinct at Greeley Elementary reported “brisk” voting through lunch. “A lot more than we saw in the last [municipal] one,” said one poll worker.#election #uicdigital pic.twitter.com/YY7R4fJuzg
— The Red Line Project (@redlineproject) February 28, 2023
Having Election Day trouble? These are the lawyers you can call if you see something sketchy at the polls: https://t.co/1oyYZWfPXL (5/6)
— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) February 28, 2023
The line was longer at Starbucks than my polling place. Go vote, Chicago! #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/hiZcvsF7Ot
— Heidi Stevens (@HeidiStevens13) February 28, 2023
Rev. Jesse Jackson delivers his mail-in ballot in person on Election Day. Handlers say it takes a lot to get him to the Loop Super Site but he insisted to demonstrate the importance of voting. @fox32news pic.twitter.com/MhuCcofIBp
— Joanie Lum FOX 32 (@JoanieLum) February 28, 2023
Get ready to #vote Chicago!
Ahead of tomorrow’s municipal election, I sat down with Chicago voter Dr. Zach McDowell to discuss the importance of voting locally, and more. #uicdigital
You can find the full discussion here:https://t.co/SP5Q2LH3ma pic.twitter.com/EN2XGdVhIs
— Lina Gebhardt (@lgebh2) February 28, 2023
Election Day and Just for Fun
A Ja’Mal Green campaign bus is stuck in a circular drive at Truman College. pic.twitter.com/X2NOF1TABV
— Robert Loerzel (@robertloerzel) February 27, 2023
I had the turkey @mannysdeli today. I’m 60 percent plant-based, so if I do eat meat, it’s generally fish or turkey. But I do love cheese…macaroni and cheese, to be exact. This is probably too much information for Election Day, though. Go vote!!🗳️ #Punch5 #BrandonIsBetter pic.twitter.com/ayO50FEyrr
— Punch 5 for Brandon Johnson! (@Brandon4Chicago) February 28, 2023
It’s not an Election Day without a stop at @MannysDeli. A nice break, delicious food, and now I’m ready to continue in this fight! #PUNCH7 pic.twitter.com/7yzDONIBss
— Lori Lightfoot (@LoriLightfoot) February 28, 2023