Two African-American Women in Run-Off for Chicago Mayor

Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle 

Two African-American women will face each other in a runoff for Chicago mayor.

Lori Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle were the top two vote-getters in yesterday's mayoral election, but neither received more than the 50% needed to avoid an April 2 runoff. The winner will succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who did not seek re-election.

The April winner will become the first African-American woman to lead Chi-town. Lightfoot is also the first openly gay woman to run for Chicago mayor.

Among those they defeated was William Daley. His father, Richard J. Daley, and brother, Richard M. Daley, held the city’s top job for nearly 43 years of a 55-year span before Emanuel took the oath in 2011.

 -RW