The Chicago Mayoral Election and the Future of Local Politics

Post midterm elections, it can be easy to let local politics slip our mind. However, as residents of Chicago, it's important to stay engaged, especially in such a tumultuous political time for the city.

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This February, we will elect a new mayor of Chicago: one of the most important, pivotal elections for the city in recent years. With the current mayor, Rahm Emanuel, deciding to not seek a second term, a slew of new candidates, many of them from untraditional backgrounds, have thrown their hat into the ring.

As Rahm leaves the mayor's office, Chicago is left with many unresolved issues. And without an incumbent or front-runner candidate in the race, this election has truly shifted its focus to the issues, rather than personal politics.

Many of the issues at the forefront of this election–such as equity and improvement in Chicago Public Schools, police violence, gentrification, segregation, immigration reform, and economic inequality–have been viewed as shortcomings of Rahm Emanuel's mayorship. As voters begin to consider other candidates for the position, comparisons will undoubtedly be drawn between their platforms and Emanuel’s legacy.

Personally, I am so excited by the candidates in this race. Many of them are women, many are people of color, and many have histories as activists and advocates for progressive change. There are also candidates of more traditional backgrounds, many of them coming from families with a history in Chicago politics.

With such pressing issues at stake, be sure to read up on the candidates, and of course, VOTE!!

Here is a list of the current candidates running, however this could definitely change over the coming months. Keep an eye out for updates!

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