The poll found U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia ahead with 28% of the vote and Mayor Lori Lightfoot in second place with 21%. In a virtual tie for third, businessman Willie Wilson sits at 13% and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas at 12%. None of the other five candidates is close to breaking into double digits.
The top issue is crime, with 48%, including 41% of Black respondents, saying that’s the top issue they’d like their aldermen to work on. Affordable housing is next at 13%. Only 38% said they hold a very or somewhat favorable opinion of the job being done by the City Council. But, as is typical in such surveys, voters have a better view of their own council members, with 58% giving their personal alderman a favorable view.
The poll has a margin of error of 3.1%. As with all polls, take it with a grain of salt.
Elsewhere on the campaign trail, WLS-TV (Ch. 7) broadcasts its mayoral debate on Thursday. And Democratic U.S. Rep Jonathan Jackson endorsed Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson for mayor. It’s worth noting that the Chicago Teachers Union, which backs Johnson, was a major supporter of Jackson in his recent race for Congress.
Wrapping up at City Hall, the City Council meets Wednesday. On the agenda is a proposal to award $5 million in grants (up to $250,000 each) to Loop shopkeepers to revamp their storefronts, part of Lightfoot’s plan to revitalize LaSalle Street.
Outside the city, the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, a group that’s quite close to organized labor, is out with a report saying that increased sales of electric vehicles will cost the state treasury and, specifically, its road construction fund an estimated $1.1 billion by 2030 by drying up receipts from the gasoline tax. The institute—hold on to your wallet—suggests making up the deficit by charging a fee calculated by how many miles a car drives on Illinois roads, EV registration fees or an additional kilowatt-per-hour fee on EV charging.
Some final notes:
• Former downstate congressman Rodney Davis has signed up to work for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, a D.C. consulting group.
• Mayoral hopeful Vallas pulled in $250,000 in campaign cash from a trust set up by Madison Dearborn Managing Partner James Perry.
• And a coalition of green and progressive groups is planning a press conference for later in the week to push a plan to limit carbon emissions in newly constructed buildings.