The Gay Chicago Election Project
A Lot of LGBTQ+ Land Is Up For Political Grabs This February
On February 28th, 2023, the City of Chicago will vote multiple elected officials into office. For races where a candidate cannot attain 50% of the vote, a runoff election will occur on April 4th.
For many observers, the biggest LGBTQ+ story might seem to be the reelection campaign for the city’s first lesbian mayor, Lori Lightfoot. But a larger LGBTQ+ story will evolve within the boundaries where much of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ population lives. For the first time in 12 years Chicago’s 44th, 46th, and 48th wards have no incumbents running for reelection.
The first gay alderman and Vice Mayor of Chicago? Tom Tunney is not running for reelection in the 44th.
The first gay initially-elected alderman? James Cappleman is not running for reelection in the 46th.
The scion of the woman whose name emblazons Chicago’s best-known gay beach? Harry Osterman is not running for reelection in the 48th.
