
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) has lost her reelection bid amid rising crime, coming in third in the city’s election on Tuesday.
Lori Lightfoot made history by becoming the Chicago’s first black gay female mayor. And tonight, after 4 years of incompetence, she makes more history. #ChicagoMayoralElection pic.twitter.com/MyQD2Z2iEG
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) March 1, 2023
The radical leftist mayor — who has often been criticized for her authoritarian policies and failure to address skyrocketing crime in Chicago — failed to secure enough votes to advance to the runoff, according to a projection from the Associated Press.
In losing her race for a second term, Lightfoot has become the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose a bid for reelection — following former mayor Jane Byrne’s ouster in 1983.
The candidates who placed first and second — former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, both of whom are Democrats — will now face each other again in the runoff election on April 4.
Lightfoot’s short time in office was marked by her authoritarian pandemic policies and a significant increase in crime.
“Lori has had her chance,” Chicago resident Lonnell Jolly, 45, told the Associated Press. “Since Lori Lightfoot has been in office, it seems like crime has gotten worse.”
In 2022 alone, Chicago saw 723 murders, a 50% increase in theft, a 95% increase in vehicle thefts, and 10% increase in both burglary and robbery — all under Lightfoot’s leadership.
Crime has continued to skyrocket in the few short months of 2023 — with the first homicide of the year occurring just 90 minutes into the New Year.
According to Breitbart News, there was a massive increase in crime in just the first 22 days of 2023.
“Compared to the first 22 days of 2021, the major crime rate in Democrat-run Chicago is already up 97 percent this year, reports Wirepoints. Compared to those same 22 days last year, crime is up 61 percent,” the outlet wrote, adding: “In just 22 days, there have been 2,189 cars stolen. That’s nearly 100 car thefts per day.”
“Compared to the first 22 days of 2022, that’s a 165 percent jump,” Breitbart News continued. “Compared to the first 22 days of 2019, that is a — not a typo — 349 percent increase.”
While she consistently polled in third place, Lightfoot still appeared confident in her victory — and was even captured on video dancing in a Lunar New Year parade in January.
Since @chicagosmayor's term began, Chicago has suffered 2,278 homicides and over 9,000 shot.
Since January 1, the city has endured 41 homicides and 194 shot.
Yet here Lightfoot is blissfully dancing and asking voters to return her to office.
Lightfoot is detached from reality. pic.twitter.com/uEbL5R9s1m
— Chicago Contrarian (@ChicagoContrar1) January 29, 2023
At the time of the Associated Press’ projection for the Chicago mayor’s race, Vallas had earned roughly 35% of the vote, while Johnson received roughly 20%. Lightfoot landed at third place with roughly 17% of the vote.
🚨BREAKING: Lori Lightfoot is OUT as Mayor of Chicago. pic.twitter.com/CYhqqnnX39
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 1, 2023
While Vallas is known for a tough-on-crime campaign with calls for hiring hundreds of additional police officers to patrol the city’s streets, Johnson has joined with the radical “Defund the Police” movement — though he later backtracked on that position.
Conservatives are celebrating Lightfoot’s loss on Twitter, citing her incompetence as mayor.
Lori Lightfoot was crushed in tonight’s Chicago mayoral race and didn’t even make the runoff. 84% of Chicagoans voted against her. 84%! That level of incompetence is tough to pull off for an incumbent. Congrats to her.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 1, 2023