Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot has stepped in it again while campaigning for reelection and is now backtracking to minimize the damage.
The city will elect its next mayor on February 28 and in a sane world, Lightfoot would not stand a chance given her dismal track record as mayor. Unfortunately, we do not live in a sane world and while campaigning over the weekend, the mayor told Chicagoans to stay home if they were not going to vote to reelect her.
Lightfoot stressed that anyone from the South Side voting for “somebody not named Lightfoot is a vote for Chuy Garcia or Paul Vallas,” according to Fox News — she was referring to her chief challengers, U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas. In all, there are nine candidates on the ballot.
“If you want them controlling your fate and your destiny, then stay home,” Lightfoot continued. “Then don’t vote.”
Naturally, when she received blowback about undermining the democratic process, the mayor claimed that she “misspoke.”
“If I said anything other than everybody everywhere needs to vote, then I misspoke in the heat of a campaign rally,” Lightfoot declared, after early voting. “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.”
“This is disqualifying rhetoric for anyone hoping to lead a Chicago that is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic city,” Garcia said told FOX 32.
Another candidate, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, also condemned Lightfoot while saying Chicago is ready to “turn the page.”
“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.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
….seeding mayoral despotism
— Ted Mayer (@ArturEnkel) February 22, 2023
Chicago voters love her, not sure why but they do.
— SoaringEagle (@BucksandBass64) February 22, 2023
Voter suppression I see.
— Ricky Ticky Tavi (@RickyBobbysCar) February 22, 2023
Misspoke? That was the best idea she had. Everyone should say that when they are running for office.
— the57student (@the57student) February 22, 2023
Chicagoans, for the love of God, vote Beetlejuice out!
— Write From Karen / Proud Biological Woman (@writefromkaren) February 22, 2023
She misspeaks every time she opens her mouth.
— LarryYo (@LimaYo56) February 22, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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