Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her reelection bid Tuesday and blamed the only thing she knows for the historic defeat – racism.
Lightfoot became the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election, failing to make the runoff as she came in third place with just 17.1% of the vote.
Rather than engaging in introspection, self-analysis, and a little bit of soul searching, however, she blamed racism for the loss.
During her concession speech, Lightfoot praised her record on crime despite its consistent increase under her watch, and despite it being viewed as a significant factor in her defeat.
One reporter goaded her by asking if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender.
“I’m a black woman in America,” she replied. “Of course.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blames election loss on racism, gender!
“I’m a black woman in America. Of course,”
she replied when asked by a reporter if she had been treated unfairly.#Chicago #chicagomayor #ChicagoForTheMany #newsevery https://t.co/XSHF0WpAZA pic.twitter.com/GxPlBR8Xe2— SANTINO (@MichaelSCollura) March 1, 2023
RELATED: Lori Lightfoot Tells People Who Don’t Support Her Not to Vote, Quickly Backtracks
Lori Lightfoot’s Loss Isn’t Due to Racism
Interestingly enough – and Lori Lightfoot might not be aware of this – but she was actually a ‘black woman in America’ when she became the first openly lesbian black woman to serve as mayor of a major city in the United States in 2019.
So the same people who were open-minded enough to usher her in as Chicago mayor four years ago are suddenly racist again.
There’s Lightfoot’s world, and then there’s reality.
Even CNN points out that growing “crime concerns” led to her demise.
“Concerns about crime and public safety have rattled Chicago,” CNN writes. “Violence in the city spiked in 2020 and 2021.”
NEW: Lori Lightfoot claims she lost her re-election bid because she’s “a black woman in America.”
What do you have to say to that?
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 1, 2023
RELATED: Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Explains ‘The Shining’ Email Where She Went Ballistic On Aide
Who’s the Actual Racist in This Equation?
While America isn’t racist against black women, Lightfoot is known for some racially charged rhetoric and actions herself.
Just last week Lightfoot channeled President Biden and told black voters that if they don’t support her, they might as well not vote at all.
“If you want them controlling your fate and your destiny, then stay home,” she told supporters of other candidates. “Then don’t vote.”
At South Side rally ft. Bobby Rush, Mayor Lightfoot reiterates, “Any vote coming from the South Side for somebody not named Lightfoot is a vote for Chuy Garcia or Paul Vallas. … If you want them controlling your destiny, then stay home. Then don’t vote.” pic.twitter.com/3mQXta1Pvt
— Alice Yin (@byaliceyin) February 18, 2023
In 2021, Lightfoot granted interviews on the two-year anniversary of her inauguration “only to Black or Brown journalists.”
White reporters were excluded from speaking to the Mayor on that day.
Commentary: @ChicagosMayor and the politics of exclusion. #TheDivide #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/8iSW9Lnslj
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) May 23, 2021
Critics celebrated Lori Lightfoot’s historic loss on Tuesday.
“Lori Lightfoot,” wrote Marjorie Taylor Greene. “Crime doesn’t pay.”
Lori Lightfoot.
Crime doesn’t pay.— Marjorie Taylor Greene
(@mtgreenee) March 1, 2023
Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany jabbed Lightfoot and recalled comments the mayor made calling her a ‘Karen’ when she worked as press secretary for Donald Trump.
“Hey, Karen. Watch your mouth,” Lightfoot said after McEnany called her “the derelict mayor of Chicago” at a press conference in 2020.
“Lori Lightfoot lost her election,” McEnany tweeted on Tuesday.
“Perhaps she should have woken up when I referred to her as the “derelict mayor of Chicago” from the White House podium for ignoring victims of crime in her city! Instead, she said “Hey, Karen. Watch your mouth.”
Lori Lightfoot lost her election.
Perhaps she should have woken up when I referred to her as the “derelict mayor of Chicago” from the White House podium for ignoring victims of crime in her city!
Instead, she said “Hey, Karen. Watch your mouth”
pic.twitter.com/8Ol3e5oUs0
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) March 1, 2023
During a segment with Fox News host Sean Hannity, McEnany quipped: “Karen here, you lost.”
She did. And it had nothing to do with her being a black woman in America.
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