Former candidate Willie Wilson endorses Lori Lightfoot in Chicago’s mayoral runoff


Willie Wilson, who was part of the initial 14-candidate field in Chicago’s mayoral race, endorsed Lori Lightfoot on Friday. Lightfoot faces Toni Preckwinkle in an April 2 runoff election.

Wilson placed fourth in the Feb. 26 general election with 10.6 percent of the vote. Lightfoot received 17.5 percent to Preckwinkle’s 16 percent. Wilson received more votes than any other candidate in 14 of the city’s 50 wards. In each of those 14 wards, Preckwinkle came in second and Lightfoot, third.

Wilson said while announcing his endorsement, “Chicago, it’s time for a change.” Referring to Preckwinkle, Wilson said, “How can you expect things to change when she is the machine?”

On Wednesday, Preckwinkle was endorsed by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White (D). White said, “We need someone who’s gonna run the city of Chicago, who has experience. I believe that Toni Preckwinkle has all that is required to run the city of Chicago.”

Also since the Feb. 26 election: Preckwinkle was endorsed by 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett. Lightfoot was endorsed by the Latino Leadership Council—a political action committee founded by U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D) and former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D)—and the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2.

That’s the second union endorsement we’ve tracked for Lightfoot, in addition to Illinois Education Association Region 67. Preckwinkle was endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, three affiliates of the Service Employees International Union, and the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers leading up to the Feb. 26 election.

See our coverage of Chicago’s mayoral race for full endorsement lists.