Lightfoot blames racism and right-wing forces for Chicago loss, leaves office with head held high.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Blames “Right-Wing Forces” and Racial Bias for Election Defeat

Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot has attributed her recent election defeat to “right-wing forces” and racial bias. Despite winning the mayoral election four years ago, Lightfoot failed to advance to the runoff this year and will leave office next week. She will be succeeded by Brandon Johnson, the left-wing former commissioner of Cook County, who defeated Paul Vallas, the more moderate former chief executive of Chicago Public Schools.

Lightfoot’s Explanation for Her Defeat

Speaking to MSNBC, Lightfoot said that she lost because of national political tumult that caused divisions in Chicago, which she admitted is a “deep-blue Democratic city.” She also claimed that her race and self-identification as a lesbian played a role in her defeat. Lightfoot cited the reelection strategy of former President Donald Trump, which relied on attacking “cities and mayors” like herself, referencing Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta and Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C.

Lightfoot acknowledged that her successor is even more left-wing than herself even as she said that Republicans had conspired to end her career. “Unfortunately the people who were jumping on the bandwagon of a Republican posing like a Democrat now got a democratic socialist as the mayor, so be careful what you wish for,” she remarked.

Lightfoot’s Record on Public Safety and Taxes

During Lightfoot’s four-year tenure, lawlessness rose dramatically in Chicago, with homicides increasing by more than 58%. Lightfoot proposed eliminating $80 million from the Chicago Police Department budget in 2020, even as she has a personal police unit with 71 officers assigned to protect her life.

Chicago also has the second-highest tax burden in the nation for combined state and local sales tax rates, according to a study from the Tax Foundation. Lightfoot had introduced a property tax increase but reversed the policy ahead of her reelection campaign, according to a report from the Illinois Policy Institute. Prominent businesses such as Tyson, Boeing, Caterpillar, and Citadel announced their exits from the city during her tenure.

Lightfoot’s Legacy

Despite her defeat, Lightfoot asserted that she leaves office with her head held high. “What we, I think, taught our city and taught the country is how to operationalize equity, whether it’s historic investments in affordable housing, the environment, our youth, coming up with a public safety that wasn’t just dependent upon law enforcement first and only,” she said.

• Lightfoot’s tenure saw lawlessness rise dramatically in Chicago, with homicides increasing by more than 58%.
• Chicago has the second-highest tax burden in the nation for combined state and local sales tax rates.
• Prominent businesses such as Tyson, Boeing, Caterpillar, and Citadel announced their exits from the city during Lightfoot’s tenure.