Chicago mayoral candidates in final push for every last vote
CHICAGO — The Soul Street Collective band was tearing up the Black Fire Brigade’s fundraiser on Chicago’s South Side Sunday when Mayor Lori Lightfoot walked in the door.
Dozens of Black women who’d been enjoying a cover of “In My House” by the Mary Jane Girls quickly turned their attention to Lightfoot, who slowly made her way through the tightly packed lounge, giving hugs and taking selfies with anyone who asked.
“Have you all seen that beautiful young lady running around, the boss lady of the city of Chicago?” said Terri Winston of the Black Fire Brigade as she introduced the mayor.
Once Lightfoot took the microphone, she ripped two of her main rivals, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, as she asked for the crowd’s support ahead of Tuesday's election.
“I need your help,” Lightfoot said. “Don’t stand on the sidelines, because if you stand on the sidelines, somebody else in a different part of the city is in control of your destiny.”
Lightfoot’s stop at the event was just one scene from the final appearances by nine rivals for mayor ahead of an unpredictable Chicago election. Candidates fanned out to churches, diners, house parties and rallies, aiming to make it past Tuesday and to the anticipated April 4 runoff.
On the other side of the city earlier in the weekend, Johnson stood along the wall at the Little Corner Restaurant in Edgewater as servers passed out heavy plates of hash browns, rye toast and omelets.
Johnson, who needs to win white liberals, progressives and Black support to make the runoff, stood with Nick Ward, the democratic socialist 48th Ward aldermanic candidate. The mayoral contender said he recently received a
