One of America’s largest cities is about to elect its first African-American female mayor. The question in Chicago is which one of the two remaining candidates? One of them could become the city’s first out lesbian mayor.
The Chicago Tribune reported a record field of 14 candidates competed in the election on Feb. 26.
No candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote. Voters will cast ballots on April 2 for one of the two candidates who received the most votes — former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot, who is a lesbian, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
Lightfoot or Preckwinkle will become Chicago’s second female mayor. Jane Byrne served 1979-1983. The winner will also become Chicago’s second African-American mayor, since Harold Washington served from 1983 until he died in 1987.
Rahm Emanuel, who has been mayor since 2011 after serving as former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, plans to retire.