Lori Lightfoot claimed she was treated unfairly during her failed re-election bid for mayor because she is a woman of color, not for her failure to curb Chicago’s soaring crime rate.
Lightfoot, the first black woman and openly gay mayor of the Windy City, is now also the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose a re-election after trailing behind in third place with only 17.1 percent of votes as of Wednesday morning.
Throughout her term, she has been criticized for her soft-on-crime approach, which has led to massive increases in violence in the city, which is up 52 percent from last year and more than 100 percent from 2021.
Lightfoot at the time attributed the fierce backlash against her to sexism and racism, with the exiting mayor now suggesting the same was responsible for her defeat.
Following her concession speech, a reporter asked her if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender, with Lightfoot answering: ‘I’m a black woman in America. Of course.’
Meanwhile, Republicans slammed the ousted mayor, saying the primary reason she lost was because of crime, with US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeting: ‘Lori Lightfoot. Crime doesn’t pay.’
Many joined Greene on Twitter, saying that with Lightfoot gone, they hope peace can finally be restored in the Windy city.
Former Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones tweeted: ‘Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot, just got the FOOT! Other Democrat mayors with run-away crime in your cities, take note. Even liberals are tired of being unsafe.’
Jonathan Turley, a criminal defense attorney and FOX News contributor added: ‘There is hope for my home city yet. Lori Lightfoot is out.
‘The greatest potential improvement for the city since 1900 when the direction of the Chicago river was reversed.’
Lightfoot faced a tough race against eight candidates, including Paul Vallas, a former Chicago Public Schools CEO and budget director, who received 33 percent of the votes so far.
Brandon Johnson, a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, won second place and will join Vallas in the run-off election scheduled for April 4.
With 94 percent of the votes in, Vallas secured his place in the run-off election with more than 172,000 votes so far, with Johnson earning more than 103,000 votes.
Johnson was able to beat Lightfoot, who fell behind with less than 87,000 votes.
Speaking to her supporters on Tuesday night, Lightfoot said: ‘Obviously, we didn’t win the election. But, I stand here with my head held high and my heart full of thanks.’
‘You will not be defined by how you fall. You will be defined by how hard you work and how much you do for other people,’ she added.
‘I will be rooting and praying for the next mayor of Chicago.’
Lightfoot also touted her administration’s supposed work to stomp out crime and curb shootings, but the leading candidate, Vallas, said the city needs actual change.
Championing his message of returning law-and-order to the city, Vallas told his supporters: ‘We will have a safe Chicago. We will make Chicago the safest city in America.
‘Public safety is a fundamental right of every American. It is a civil right, and it is the principal responsibility of government.’
Never fails when you screw up and lose your job or the vote, blame it on race or gender. Democrat rule number one BLAME anything or anyone but never accept blame for yourself.
Congratulations Chicago!
I have to wonder if she has ever taken responsibility for anything she has done wrong.
Her actions say “Let them eat cake, it’s not my problem”. She hates the police, but she put a squadron her block to protect the most important person in Chi Town, maybe on the planet, Herself.
Why didn’t this repugnant politician claim that exact argument on that sad day 3 years ago when she was declared the winner of the race for mayor of the city of Chicago? Or maybe back then she wasn’t a woman or she wasn’t black. Nowadays with gender and color fluidity, you never know…
Good Riddance!