EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University political scientists Jaime Dominguez and Thomas Ogorzalek are available to comment on Chicago’s historic mayoral race.

Jaime Dominguez is an assistant professor of instruction in the department of political science in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. His teaching and research focuses on race and ethnicity, immigration, urban politics, Latino politics and Chicago politics. He can be reached at .

Quote from Professor Dominguez

“Today’s historic mayoral election will be won by the candidate that can best excite and carve out enough of the black vote in Chicago’s West and South side. However, once the transition from an electoral to a governing coalition begins, a financial mess awaits and executive authority and decision-making may be challenged by a more emboldened and resistant progressive city council.”

Thomas Ogorzalek is an assistant professor of political science in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. His research interests include American politics, urban politics and politics of race and ethnicity. He can be reached at . 

Quote from Professor Ogorzalek

“In the mayor’s race, polls have generally favored Lightfoot since the first round. But in a relatively low-turnout local race, mobilization plays a bigger role. In the first round, Preckwinkle and Lightfoot appeared to share a base. In the second round, it appears that it might be Lightfoot's support among self-mobilizing high-income and high-socioeconomic status voters against Preckwinkle's support from working-class unions and the communities they mobilize. 

“Many of the aldermanic runoffs will reveal whether city council elections are a referendum on incumbents’ performance or a choice to move toward an insurgent progressive coalition in city policymaking.”

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