Lightfoot Sorry For Telling Voters Who Don’t Support Her Not To Vote

By Alex Steele Feb23,2023

Chicago’s Mayor Lightfoot recently told voters who did not vote for her to ” not vote.”

Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of Chicago

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is accused of damaging the democratic process and encouraging voter suppression after suggesting that South Side voters who don’t vote for her reelection shouldn’t vote in the race at all.

Mayor Lightfoot urged Black residents to support her campaign for reelection or risk losing the seat.

Lori Lightfoot is the Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, and started her duties there on May 20, 2019. She is currently running for reflection, as her current term is slated to end on May 15, 2023.

What Was Said

Three among the eight other challengers on the ballot pose credible threats to her chances of securing a second term.

During a campaign event over the weekend in Grand Crossing, the mayor said anyone from the South Side voting for “somebody not named Lightfoot is a vote for Chuy Garcia or Paul Vallas,” referring to her challengers. 

U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas are the other frontrunners in the election for Chicago mayor.

After casting her vote Monday at Northeastern Illinois University, Lightfoot told reporters that she hadn’t meant to imply that people should not participate in elections.

Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, who is also running to become the next mayor of Chicago, said residents deserve “real leadership” and are ready to “turn the page” with the election of a new mayor.

“Lori Lightfoot telling residents not to vote unless they vote for her shows that she cares more about maintaining power for herself than empowering communities or getting things done for the people of our city,” he said.

She Didn’t Mean To Say It

After casting her vote Monday at Northeastern Illinois University, Lightfoot told reporters she did not mean to suggest voters should sit out the election.

“If I said anything other than everybody everywhere needs to vote, then I misspoke in the heat of a campaign rally,” she said. “But I’ve been very consistent all along saying everybody everywhere needs to step up, and they need to vote just as I said today.”

Lightfoot’s initial comments, however, drew criticism from her mayoral opponents who accused her of damaging the democratic process.

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