BREAKING: Democrat  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses re-election campaign

Former Chicago school superintendent Paul Vallas will face off against Cook County commissioner Brandy Johnson in the runoff election. Vallas was endorsed by the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police and is considered a moderate, law-and-order candidate while Johnson ran as a progressive backed by the Chicago Teachers’ Union.

Many on the left celebrated Lightfoot as the first openly gay person to serve as Chicago mayor.

“Obviously we didn’t win the election today, but I stand here with my head held high,” said Lightfoot in defeat.

Recent polls showed that crime, especially carjackings and gun violence, had eroded support for Lightfoot among Chicagoans.

Lightfoot was also known for attacking and insulting members of the press who questioned her and challenged her decisions. In one famous exchange, she berated a reporter for asking her to walk back a tweet issuing a “call to arms” for people to oppose the Supreme Court Dobbs decision on abortion.