CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s failure to advance to a runoff election Tuesday represents an astonishing fall from power four years after she was ushered into City Hall with a promise of reform.
Instead, she struggled through a storm of skyrocketing crime, the COVID-19 pandemic and a series of personality conflicts that left her labeled as a divisive leader who was unable to build political coalitions.
Lightfoot conceded defeat late Tuesday. With 94% of precincts reporting, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson had secured spots in a runoff election, with Lightfoot running third in the nine-candidate race, according to unofficial result.
