Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: The battle for City Hall is on: Paul Vallas will face Brandon Johnson to become Chicago’s next mayor
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas will face off in April against Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson to become Chicago’s next mayor as voters Tuesday rejected incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s efforts for a second term after four tumultuous years marked by a pandemic, spikes in crime citywide and widespread divisiveness.
The results followed a frequently bitter nine-way race to lead the nation’s third-largest city and all but guarantees an ideological battle over the next five weeks before the April 4 runoff between two politicians with starkly divergent visions on how to lead the city.
Chicago Sun-Times: City Council poised for big changes with multiple races up for grabs
Tuesday’s election promised significant change for Chicago’s City Council, and not just because 16 members who were around four years ago resigned over the last year or opted to not run again.
The Center Square: Judge to rule on key issues ahead of jury selection in Madigan corruption case
A judge is expected to rule on key motions that seek to limit what the jury will hear before a high-profile corruption case involving longtime former Illinois House Speak Michael Madigan begins in March.
Judge Harry Leinenweber said Tuesday he will rule on pre-trial motions from the four defendants and prosecutors in a federal bribery and conspiracy case also involving Illinois’ largest utility company at a hearing on March 9.
Chicago Sun-Times: Michael Madigan’s attorneys seek to toss recordings, dismiss part of his indictment
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan asked a federal judge Tuesday to toss secret recordings made by investigators and dismiss part of the bombshell racketeering indictment the feds spent years building against him.
WGN: Runoff election in Chicago: What happens and when
Chicago’s municipal elections are non-partisan events. So while other elections, such as the race for President of the United States, involve primaries to whittle down potential candidates, the Election Day ballot in Chicago regularly includes races with a multitude of candidates.
Whichever candidate gets more than 50% of total votes cast is the winner. However when there are more than two candidates, it’s possible no one reaches 50% and thus no one wins. Enter the runoff election.
WTTW: Early Voting Was Up, But Chicago’s Election Day Turnout Was Sluggish. Find the Latest Numbers
Early voting numbers for Chicago’s municipal election were up this cycle compared to previous years. As the minutes pass Tuesday, will the same enthusiasm translate to polling places on Election Day?
The mayor, clerk, treasurer, aldermanic and police council races are on the ballot Tuesday. The winners of these races may take some time to sort out, but voters will have to be in line by the time the polling places close at 7 p.m. for their ballot to be counted.