Year of the Incumbent? Only one sitting City Council member unseated this year — first time in a century

Southwest Side Ald. Anabel Abarca (12th), was the only incumbent knocked out of the Council this cycle. She was only on the job about two months before she was beaten by Julia Ramirez in the first round of municipal voting Feb. 28. (Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Time)

Last year will be remembered by many City Hall observers for the wave of incumbents who announced they’d give up their City Council seats — but this year has proven a record-breaking one for members being able to hold onto theirs.

With unofficial final runoff election results this week confirming a third term for West Side Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), only one incumbent was knocked out of the Council this cycle — a singular ouster that marks the smallest rejection of sitting members since Chicago switched to the 50-ward Council system a century ago.