History: a black and gay woman will govern Chicago

With minimal resources and a contact campaign, Lori Lightfoot won the elections

WASHINGTON – Chicago, the third most populous city in the country, marked the day before yesterday a new milestone in the political history of the United States by electing for the first time to the city's mayor, an African-American woman and openly homobadual.

Lori Lightfoot, 56, a lawyer, made an unexpected blow to the city's political establishment, imposed by an overwhelming majority, which until recently was considered the favorite candidate to win the election, Toni Preckwinkle, a woman , also African American, career in Chicago, who spent nearly 20 years in the deliberative Council. Lightfoot, who has never held an elected office, won more than 70% of the vote, according to the first count.

The triumph of Lightfoot gained national notoriety not only because of the landmark event in US history and the demographic and economic weight of Chicago on the map of the country: it is the third most populous city after New York and Los Angeles. economy equivalent to the gross product of Switzerland-, but also by the political message sent to the rest of the country, at the moment when a new presidential campaign begins.

The Lightfoot campaign has focused heavily on fighting corruption in a city rich in political corruption archives. And it has revalidated the trend that marks a greater openness of the population to choose candidates outside the traditional political spectrum, or
The foreignersin North American political jargon. Chicago, on the political scene of the United States, was a closed stronghold where power evolved within a circle of well-established personalities. "We do not want anyone who has not sent anyone", is one of the mantras of the city.

"When we started this trip, eleven months ago, no one left us with many possibilities, we had to face powerful interests, a powerful machine and a powerful mayor," Lightfoot said yesterday before yesterday, celebrating his triumph. "We can and will stop in this city the endless cycle of corruption!", He promises to his followers.

The road leading to the office of the mayor of Chicago was opened after Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Barack Obama's first chief of staff and strategist of his first presidential campaign, announced last year that he was not going to would not submit to a third term.

A former federal prosecutor, Lightfoot was the ninth contender for the Mayor of Chicago contest. Born in Ohio, she is married to Amy Eshelman. They have an 11 year old daughter. As it happened with others
The foreigners Experts and badysts quickly rejected his candidacy, saying that he lacked a visible "path" to triumph, which upset American politics, such as President Donald Trump or Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. .

Without political apparatus

Lightfoot did not have the links and structure of a traditional campaign and chose to do politics in the old days. "Instead of just relying on advertising, he went everywhere and met everyone," summed up an editorial of the
Chicago Tribune. In addition, Lightfoot presented detailed proposals rather than big ideas. And he promised to deal with the inequality that prevails in the city, a visible epidemic in most of the country. One of its main promises: to invest more in the most neglected neighborhoods.

"We can and we will make Chicago a place where your postal code will not determine your destiny!", He said in his victory speech.

Lightfoot will take office in May. Yesterday, while he was visiting the city to celebrate the victory, he acknowledged his surprise.

"We felt very comfortable if we had a good margin according to our internal investigation and what we heard from other people throughout the city, but sweep the 50 speakers with this margin type is obviously historic and very rewarding "he said. The story was already done.