I’ve voted by mail for every election since the 2012 general, my first election since I moved here in April 2012
They’ve only gotten half the mail-in ballots yet:
Between this, the low turnout, and the number of candidates, we probably won’t know who’s going to the runoff for a while.
Heh. So far, I’m right about this one. 55% for Burke with half the precincts reporting.
Yeah, Burke will easily win reelection. The only way to get rid of him is prison or the grave.
HOWEVER, I do find it heartening that at this point with 75% of the vote that Lori Lightfoot is leading Preckwinkle by close to 7000 votes and ahead of Daley 10,000+. If this holds I expect the full court press to defame and slander Lightfoot will go in to full steam ASAP. Lightfoot vs Preckwinkle would be very interesting for several reasons.
I am giddy that it appears 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore appears to be getting stomped. I’ve been waiting for this day to come for a while.
Also, happy to see Proco ‘Joe’ Moreno the 1st Ward Alderman looks to be going down as well. Good riddance to that crook.
I was glad to see Gery Chico’s concession speech was positive with him encouraging people to support the person who ultimately wins the runoff.
Former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy’s concession was pretty much the opposite with him promising an endorsement in the next few days and warning that he hopes one of the ‘good’ people running will prevail since there are several ‘bad’ people in the race. I assume he thinks Lightfoot is one of the bad people; not sure what he thinks of Preckwinkle. I’m pretty sure Daley is one of his ‘good’ people.
I didn’t think Burke was a shoo-in. He could’ve been beaten if people just showed up to vote.
Anyhow, I am impressed by Lightfoot’s results so far. I did not expect that.
Burke is old school Machine and knows how to get his voters to the polls, dead or alive. (only sorta joking.)
And I’m very much with you on how Lightfoot is doing. I thought she had a shot at ending up in the top two but I thought it would be to the detriment of Preckwinkle.
I live in his ward, and I know how he is. I see him around. I’m respectful around him. But, yeah, he’s old school machine, and they know how to get the people to the polls. And he does have a lot of supporters across ethnic lines. I actually don’t actively dislike him. But he’s not the future of this ward.
I knew you live in his ward so I understand. I met him and his wife on several occasions when I was managing a restaurant on Taylor St. I always had a positive impression of him as a person. Just like you said, he’s not the future. Just like the Machine isn’t the future of this city.
Anne is a wonderful person. It’s a really weird position to be in. I understand where he come from. I understand the people who support him. He’s done a lot for a lot of people, and they are entrusted to him. But, man, you’re almost 75. Take a fucking vacation. Enjoy the rest of your life while you can. Have someone else run the ward.
Very well said.
BTW, watching the 10 o’clock news and the folks at Preckwinkle are vamping and filling on live TV because no one can find her to come to the podium. Apparently this has happened at other events, just not on live television. That doesn’t bode to well for organization on the part of her campaign.
Well, I’m quite happy. Our next Mayor will be a massive improvement! Also, Rahm’s Mini-Me, Patrick O’Connor, getting only a third of the vote. Good times.
Don’t forget Joe Moore getting crushed; that one is making me do a happy dance.
I thought Rahm did a great job, I voted for Daley. I’ll be voting Lightfoot in the runoff.
I honestly feel completely undecided at this point, though I’m fairly happy with both candidates. This is…not a position I’m used to finding myself in.
Lori Lightfoot, walking in the footsteps of Harold Washington. Let there be light indeed.
Though this looks like it will be another North side vs South side election. Lori will get the Daley voters, Preckwinkle will get the Wilson voters. I think the Mendoza and Chico voters will go to Lori for the most part.
The differences in speeches last night was striking. Lori was beaming, enthusiastic and surrounded by her beautiful family. She was curteous and congratulated Preckwinkle. The audience was diverse, multiracial and young. The crowd was filled with families with small kids who care about the city’s future.
OTOH Preckwinkle was late to her own event, and spent half the speech out of breath and already attacking Lori. Everyone just looked old, tired and mad. She really just has the CTU as her base, and all they care about is juicing the city for more cash. She won her own county district, but she couldn’t even beat Wilson in the surrounding neighborhoods. Wilson!
I ordered my lawn sign and donated to Lori’s campaign. She will need all the help she can get, because the tsunami of slime coming her way from Preckwinkle’s goons will be massive.
I agree completely, Preckwinkle was hoping for a matchup with Daley, assuming she’d win with the unions and Lightfoot voters staying home in the runoff.
I damn well don’t want Preckwinkle there. I’m going to check my schedule and see if I can’t volunteer for the Lightfoot campaign.
Politics makes strange bedfellows, I have a feeling this might be the first time some of us Chicago dopers agree on a candidate.
I was watching WGN around 8 when it was becoming pretty obvious that it was going to be Lightfoot and Preckwinkle. They cut to the Preckwinkle event and it was quiet and somber. The reaction from the newscasters was “Do they realize she’s going to the runoff?”
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Surprised at such low turnout.
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Looking from outside the city I think Preckwinkle has an advantage going into the runoff. Daly voters will split more for her I’m guessing.
As I mentioned above, I think the Preckwinkle people were hoping for a very low turnout runoff against Daley where the ‘real progressives’ who voted Lightfoot would stay home and the unions would sweep Preckwinkle to victory.
Now, Preckwinkle is stuck with a coalition against her. People like me on the center left who voted Rahm and Daley but are 100% against Preckwinkle joining up with the engaged Lightfoot supporters.