An array of Chicago mayoral and City Council signs are posted outside of Broadway Armory Park, a 48th Ward polling location on Feb. 28, 2023. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
Emboldened by a wave of retirements and departures by veteran alderpeople, progressive groups across the city sought Tuesday to remake the Chicago City Council.
Twelve members of the Chicago City Council are not seeking reelection, which will mean nearly a quarter of the city will get new political leadership in 2023, ensuring that the group that takes office in May will look very different from its current incarnation.
Nine candidates faced no opposition and were assured of winning a four-year term: Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward); Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward); Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th Ward); Ald. David Moore (17th Ward); Ald. Walter Burnett (27th Ward); Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward); Ald. Carlos Ramirez (35th Ward); Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward); Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward) and Bennett Lawson, who will replace his retiring boss, Ald. Tom Tunney, in Lakeview’s 44th Ward.
The Chicago Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, known as the DSA, which shifted the balance of political power in Chicago in 2019 by electing six members to the City Council was hoping to nearly double that number this year and seize more power for progressives than at any time since the era of former Mayor Harold Washington.
That push triggered a counterpunch by political action committees funded by Chicago business leaders, determined to prevent the City Council from moving further left during the next four years.
The most high-profile head-to-head race Tuesday took place in the 25th Ward, which includes Pilsen, one of the city’s hottest real estate markets. Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez’ bid for a second term faced a stiff challenge from Aida Flores, a Chicago Public Schools principal.
Sigcho Lopez has the endorsement of the Chicago DSA.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Sigcho Lopez was leading Flores, with 53% of the vote. There are 1,334 unreturned vote-by-mail ballots, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.
In the 50th Ward, which includes West Ridge, Mueze Bawany was running to unseat Ald. Debra Silverstein.
Silverstein earned 68% of the vote with 100% of votes tallied, according to unofficial results.
Chicago DSA withdrew their endorsement of Bawany after he said he was not a socialist.
In the 39th Ward, which includes Sauganash, Ald. Samantha Nugent was facing a spirted challenge from data scientist Denali Dasgupta, who has the endorsement of United Working Families, a progressive political organization tied to the Chicago Teachers Union.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Nugent held a comfortable lead over Dasgupta, with 64% of the vote.
Change is certain to come to the Southwest Side’s 14th Ward, where Ald. Ed Burke is not running for a 15th term. Burke, 78, faces a November 2023 trial on racketeering, bribery and extortion charges centered on allegations by the Department of Justice that he repeatedly — and brazenly — used his powerful position at City Hall to force those doing business with the city to hire his private law firm.
Running to replace him are Jeylu Gutierrez, an aide to Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, who had the backing of U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García and Raul Reyes, who has ties to Burke’s political operation, and works for the city clerk’s office.
With 100% of precints reporting, Gutierrez is ahead of Reyes, pulling in 65% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
In the 12th Ward, attorney Ald. Anabel Abarca, appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to replace her boss, former Ald. George Cardenas, faced Julia Ramirez, a community organizer. Ramirez has the endorsement of United Working Families and García.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Ramirez had a solid lead over Abarca with 56.5% of the vote versus 43.5%. There are 702 unreturned vote-by-mail ballots.
Registered voters in the 48th Ward line up inside the Broadway Armory Park polling station in anticipation to cast their ballots on Feb. 28, 2023. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
In the 10-candidate race for the 48th Ward seat, Joe Dunne (27%) and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (22%) are in position for a runoff election with 100% of votes counted, according to unofficial results. Dunne and Manaa-Hoppenworth were followed by Nick Ward (19%) and Isaac Freilich Jones (10%). The remaining candidates each have less than 10% of votes in that race.
Angela Clay appears headed for a runoff in the 46th Ward after receiving 35% of the vote with 100% of votes counted, according to unofficial results. Her opponent is likely to be Kim Walz, who is in second place and received 26% of votes. Marianne Lalonde received 17% of votes and Patrick Nagle received 12%. The remaining candidates each have less than 10% of votes in that race.
Incumbent 24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott is likely moving to a runoff election, as she has 45% of votes after 100% of votes had been counted in that eight-way race, according to unofficial results. Creative Scott appears to be her likely competitiion after receiving 15% of the votes, ahead of Vetress Boyce (13%). No other candidate in that race is above 10% of votes.
Ronnie Mosley (25%) and Cornell Dantzler (22%) appear headed to a runoff election in the 21st Ward race, where 100% of votes have been counted, according to unofficial results. Preston Brown Jr. received 18% of votes, while Daliah Goree received 11% and Kweli Kwaza got 10%.
And in the 11th Ward, incumbent Ald. Nicole Lee (31%) and Anthony “Tony” Ciaravino (30%) are likely moving to a runoff after 100% of votes have been counted, according to unofficial results. Don Don has 20% of votes in that race, and Ambria Taylor has 13%.
While most incumbents appeared to hold comfortable leads, some are in tight races and facing the potential of an April runoff. As of 7 p.m. Wednesday:
— With 100% of precincts counted, 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata has 49% of the vote and appears headed for a runoff with challenger Sam Royko, who grabbed 24% of the talled votes. Fifty percent plus one is needed to avoid a runoff. In this ward, there are more than 4,000 unreturned vote-by-mail ballots in this ward, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.
— Ald. Jeannette Taylor earned 52% of the vote in a three-way race for her 20th Ward seat.
— Ald. Chris Taliaferro has 50.51% of the vote in the 29th Ward, with 1,211 unreturned vote-by-mail ballots.
— With 100% of precincts reporting, Ald. Rosanna Rodriguez-Sanchez has 53% of the vote in the 33rd Ward. There are 2,294 unreturned vote-by-mail ballots.
— With 100% of precincts reporting, Ald. Gilbert Villegas has 47% of the vote in the 36th Ward. He appears headed to an April 4 runoff with challenger Lori Torres Whitt, who grabbed 29% of the vote.
— With all precincts now counted in the 45th Ward, Ald. Jim Gardiner is currently just shy of the 50%-plus-one threshold, with 49.97% of the vote. He could be headed to a runoff with Megan Mathias who has 16% of the counted votes. There are more than 2,000 unreturned vote-by-mail ballots.
WTTW News reporters Heather Cherone, Matt Masterson and Patty Wetli contributed.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
