Lori Lightfoot

Lori Lightfoot Makes History, Elected Mayor of Chicago

Sentinel News WireApril 2, 2019

Political newcomer Lori Lightfoot has been elected Chicago mayor, becoming the first black female — and openly gay — leader of the city. Lightfoot on Tuesday defeated Toni Preckwinkle, a former schoolteacher who served in the City Council for 19 years before becoming Cook County Board president in 2011. The 56-year-old Lightfoot is a former federal prosecutor who campaigned on ridding Chicago’s government of corruption. She also said she wanted to help low-income and working-class people she believes have been “left behind and ignored” by Chicago’s political ruling class. Lightfoot and Preckwinkle were the top two vote-getters in the February

Daily Briefs

Today Chicago will Make History, 2 Black Women Vying in Runoff to Become Chicago’s Next Mayor

Associated Press - HERBERT G. McCANNApril 2, 2019

CHICAGO (AP) — A former federal prosecutor who has never held elected office was vying for Chicago mayor on Tuesday against a powerful official whose political career spans decades, providing voters a clear contrast in a historic runoff already assured of elevating a black woman to lead the nation’s third-largest city. Lori Lightfoot / Toni Preckwinkle Lori Lightfoot, 56, who had served as an assistant U.S. attorney before entering private practice as an attorney, emerged as the surprising leader in the first round of voting in February when 14 candidates were on the ballot. She is matched up this time