Democrat Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot urged South Side voters that if they did not vote to re-elect her, they should not vote at all, but she now claims that she misspoke in the heat of the moment. That wouldn’t be the first time this racist mayor said something out of turn.
During a campaign stop in Grand Crossing over the weekend, the mayor stated that anyone from the South Side voting for “somebody not named Lightfoot is a vote for Chuy Garcia or Paul Vallas,” alluding to her competitors.
Other frontrunners in the race for Chicago mayor include US Representative Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas.
“If you want them to control your fate and destiny, stay at home,” Lightfoot added. “In that case, don’t vote.”
But, after voting Monday at Northeastern Illinois University, Lightfoot told reporters that she did not want to urge voters to abstain from voting.
“If I said anything other than everybody everywhere needs to vote, then I misspoke in the heat of a campaign rally,” she added. “But I’ve been very consistent all along, saying everybody everywhere needs to step up, and they need to vote just as I said today.”
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELHowever, Lightfoot’s early remarks sparked criticism from her mayoral opponents, who accused her of undermining the democratic process.
“This is disqualifying rhetoric for anyone hoping to lead a Chicago that is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic city,” Garcia stated, according to FOX 32.
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, who is also running for mayor of Chicago, said residents demand “real leadership” and are ready to “turn the page” with a new mayor’s election.
“Lori Lightfoot telling residents not to vote unless they vote for her shows that she cares more about maintaining power for herself than empowering communities or getting things done for the people of our city,” he said.
Another candidate, philanthropist Willie Wilson, called Lightfoot’s remarks “delusional, divisive, dangerous, and disappointing.”
Another mayoral challenger, activist Ja’Mal Green, said on Twitter that Lightfoot’s “desperation was showing.”
“I just showed this to a busload of new voters & the video made them more motivated than ever to vote against Lightfoot today,” he added.
