Chicago Elects Its First Black, Female And Openly Gay Mayor

Chicago has just elected Lori Lightfoot as the city’s first Black, female and openly gay mayor.

On Tuesday, the former federal prosecutor defeated Toni Preckwinkle in a runoff vote. The race officially ended just before 8 p.m., according to the Associated Press. Out of over 91 percent of precincts, Lightfoot led Preckwinkle 73.7 percent to 26.3 percent, according to the Chicago board of elections website. After her win, Lightfoot yelled out “Thank you Chicago!”

“In this election Toni and I were competitors, but our differences are nothing compared to what we can achieve together,” Lightfoot said. “Now that it’s over, I know we will work together for the city that we both love.” “Today, you did more than make history,” Lightfoot said. “You created a movement for change.” Before her historic win, Lightfoot served as an assistant U.S. attorney before she entered private practice, the 56-year-old has never held an elective office before.”

Regardless of the outcome, the race would have ended with the city’s first-ever Black female Mayor. The city consists of an only 33 percent Black community, according to 2010 Census data.

Preckwinkle congratulated Lightfoot despite the loss. “This may not be the outcome we wanted, but while I may be disappointed, I’m not disheartened,” she said. “For one thing, this is clearly a historic night. Not long ago, two African-American women vying for this position would have been unthinkable.”

Lightfoot claims as mayor she will invest in the city’s West and Southside neighborhoods and press transparency and accountability on City Hall, which is has a long history of corruption. Lightfoot hopes to change the community’s perspective on Chicago’s government.