Pardon Our Dust
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Chicago’s municipal runoff election occurred on Tuesday, April 4. Races that did not achieve a 50% majority in the February 28 election sent the top two candidates to the runoff. The Chicago Board of Elections reported 35% of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2023 runoff, equal to the 35% turnout from February 28, and up 2% over the 33% turnout recorded in the 2019 runoff.
With over 99% of votes counted, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson defeated former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas to become the 57th Mayor of Chicago. As of the morning of April 6, Johnson received 51.44% of the vote, compared to 48.56% for Vallas. Johnson ran as a progressive funded by the Chicago Teachers Union, whereas Vallas ran a moderate campaign, receiving support from Republican-affiliated groups and focusing on increasing police presence.
Geographically, Johnson won most precincts on the South Side, West Side, and progressive areas of the far North Side. Vallas bested Johnson on the city’s Northwest Side, Southwest Side, downtown, far Southeast Side, and North Side areas along Lake Michigan.
Young voters turned out at even higher numbers than on February 28, likely propelling Johnson to victory. 17,000 more voters ages 25 to 34 and 5,000 more voters ages 18 to 24 voted in the runoff election than on February 28. The mayoral inauguration is scheduled for May 15.
14 aldermanic races, including six races featuring incumbents, were also decided in the runoff election. All six incumbent aldermen who went to a runoff were reelected.
Below is a complete list of races from the runoff election. Winners are marked in bold.
Mayor
Brandon Johnson
Paul Vallas
4th Ward Alderman
Lamont Robinson
Prentice C. Butler
5th Ward Alderman
Martina “Tina” Hone
Desmon C. Yancy
6th Ward Alderman
Richard A Wooten
William E. Hall
10th Ward Alderman
Peter Chico
Ana Guajardo
11th Ward Alderman
Anthony “Tony” Ciaravino
Nicole Lee (i)
21st Ward Alderman
Cornell Dantzler
Ronnie L. Mosley
24th Ward Alderman
Monique L. Scott (i)
Creative Scott
29th Ward Alderman
Chris Taliaferro (i)
CB Johnson
30th Ward Alderman
Ruth Cruz
Jessica W. Gutierrez
36th Ward Alderman
Leonor “Lori” Torres Whitt
Gilbert “Gil” Villegas (i)
43rd Ward Alderman
Timmy Knudsen (i)
Brian C. Comer
45th Ward Alderman
Megan Mathias
James “Jim” Gardiner (i)
46th Ward Alderman
Angela Clay
Kim Walz
48th Ward Alderman
Joe Dunne
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth