Lori Lightfoot served as the 56th mayor of Chicago from 2019 to 2023. A Democrat and former lawyer, she held positions like president of the Chicago Police Board before her mayoral victory against Toni Preckwinkle. Despite her legal and governmental background, Lightfoot's re-election bid in 2023 failed, making her Chicago's first incumbent mayor since 1983 to lose re-election.
August 4, 1962: Lori Lightfoot is Born
Lori Elaine Lightfoot was born on August 4, 1962.
1983: Jane Byrne Loses Re-election
In 1983, Jane Byrne became the first incumbent mayor of Chicago to lose a re-election bid since an earlier time period. This event is mentioned in relation to Lori Lightfoot's experience in 2023.
1984: Lightfoot Graduates from the University of Michigan
Lori Lightfoot graduated with honors from the University of Michigan in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
1989: Lightfoot Earns Law Degree
Lori Lightfoot graduated from the University of Chicago with her Juris Doctor degree in 1989.
1999: Lightfoot Receives Warning for Misconduct
In 1999, while working as a federal prosecutor, Lori Lightfoot was issued a warning for misconduct by Judge Richard Posner. The warning was related to her handling of information about a suspect's whereabouts in a case.
2002: Lightfoot Appointed Chief Administrator of the Office of Professional Standards
In 2002, Lori Lightfoot was appointed chief administrator of the Chicago Police Department Office of Professional Standards by Police Superintendent Terry Hillard.
2013: Lightfoot Named "Distinguished Citizen"
In 2013, Lori Lightfoot's high school alumni association named her a "Distinguished Citizen."
2013: Lightfoot Considered for U.S. Attorney
Lori Lightfoot was a finalist for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, but the position ultimately went to Zachary T. Fardon.
May 31, 2014: Marriage to Amy Eshleman
Lightfoot married Amy Eshleman, a former Chicago Public Library employee, on May 31, 2014.
2015: Lightfoot Appointed President of the Chicago Police Board
In 2015, Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Lori Lightfoot to replace 19-year incumbent Demetrius Carney as president of the Chicago Police Board.
2016: Police Accountability Task Force Issues Report
In 2016, the Police Accountability Task Force, led by Lori Lightfoot, filed a report that criticized the Chicago Police Department's practices, including the police union's "code of silence."
2017: Lightfoot Appointed to Second Term on Police Board
In 2017, Mayor Rahm Emanuel re-appointed Lori Lightfoot to a second term as president of the Police Board.
May 10, 2018: Lightfoot Announces Candidacy for Mayor
On May 10, 2018, Lori Lightfoot announced her candidacy for mayor of Chicago in the 2019 elections.
May 2018: Lightfoot Resigns from Police Board
In May 2018, Lori Lightfoot resigned from the Police Board.
2018: Lightfoot's Campaign Gains Momentum
By the summer of 2018, Lori Lightfoot had the highest-funded campaign among challengers to incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel. After Emanuel dropped out of the race, high-profile candidates such as Gery Chico, William M. Daley, Susana Mendoza, and Toni Preckwinkle entered the race.
April 2, 2019: Lightfoot Wins Runoff Election
Lori Lightfoot won the runoff election on April 2, 2019, becoming mayor-elect of Chicago.
April 6, 2019: Lightfoot Examines Lincoln Yards Development Agreement
On April 6, 2019, shortly after her election, Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot initiated a review of the city's agreement with Sterling Bay for the Lincoln Yards development. Critical of the agreement's process, she later announced her support for the project following increased commitments to minority and women-owned contractors.
May 28, 2019: Lightfoot Proposes Chicago City Council Rule Revisions
On May 28, 2019, Mayor Lightfoot unveiled proposals to revise the Chicago City Council's operating rules, aiming for greater transparency, stronger ethics regulations, and shifted control over TIF subsidies.
May 31, 2019: Lightfoot Calls for Alderman Burke's Resignation
On May 31, 2019, following the indictment of Alderman Edward M. Burke, Mayor Lightfoot called for his resignation.
June 5, 2019: Lightfoot Presents Further Ethics Reform Proposals
On June 5, 2019, Mayor Lightfoot continued her push for ethical conduct within the city council by outlining additional ethics reform proposals.
June 2019: Community Policing and ICE Policy
Lightfoot launched a community policing initiative in June 2019. She also announced that the Chicago Police Department would not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Lightfoot's administration denied ICE access to the city's police database to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.
June 2019: Grand Marshal of Chicago Pride Parade
Lightfoot was selected as a grand marshal for the Chicago Pride Parade in June 2019.
June 2019: Lightfoot Initiates Study for Chicago Casino Location
In June 2019, following the passage of legislation expanding gambling in Illinois, Mayor Lightfoot announced the city would study potential locations for a casino, a long-sought goal of her predecessors.
October 14, 2019: Lightfoot Establishes Affordable Housing Task Force
On October 14, 2019, Mayor Lightfoot established an affordable housing task force to address the city's housing affordability crisis, aiming to develop solutions and propose a revised affordable housing ordinance.
November 8, 2019: Interim Police Superintendent Appointment
Following the resignation announcement of Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson, Lightfoot appointed Charlie Beck as the interim superintendent on November 8, 2019.
November 13, 2019: Proposed Office of Public Safety Administration
Lightfoot put forward an ordinance on November 13, 2019, to establish a new Office of Public Safety Administration in Chicago. This office aimed to consolidate the administrative functions of the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department, and the existing Office of Public Safety Administration.
November 23, 2019: Lightfoot's Minimum Wage Increase Plan Approved
On November 23, 2019, the Chicago City Council approved Mayor Lightfoot's plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2021, excluding restaurant servers and tipped workers.
November 26, 2019: 2020 Budget Approval
The Chicago City Council approved Lightfoot's budget for the 2020 fiscal year on November 26, 2019.
2019: Lightfoot Runs for Mayor
Lori Lightfoot ran for mayor of Chicago in the 2019 elections. She was the first openly lesbian candidate in the history of Chicago mayoral elections.
2019: Lori Lightfoot Elected Mayor of Chicago
In 2019, Lori Lightfoot was elected the 56th mayor of Chicago, defeating Toni Preckwinkle in a runoff election.
2019: Lightfoot Defends Past Client as Mayor
In 2019, Lori Lightfoot defended her work representing Chicago police officer Paul Powers, who had been accused of physical assault. She cited video evidence she believed proved her former client's innocence.
2019: Proposed Graduated Transfer Tax
In 2019, Lightfoot proposed a graduated transfer tax for commercial real estate sales in Chicago. The goal was to generate more revenue from large real estate transactions while providing a tax break for smaller transfers under $500,000.
2019: Lightfoot Runs for Mayor
Lori Lightfoot ran for mayor of Chicago in the 2019 elections.
March 6, 2020: Lightfoot Appoints Tracey Scott as CEO of Chicago Housing Authority
On March 6, 2020, Mayor Lightfoot appointed Tracey Scott as the CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, a decision later approved by the CHA Board of Commissioners.
March 12, 2020: Lightfoot and Pritzker Issue Ban on Large Events
On March 12, 2020, in response to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Lightfoot joined Governor Pritzker in issuing a ban on events with over 1,000 attendees for 30 days.
March 20, 2020: Lightfoot Extends School Closures and Issues Stay-at-Home Order
On March 20, 2020, Mayor Lightfoot extended the closure of Chicago Public Schools beyond state mandates and issued a stay-at-home order requiring residents with COVID-19 or symptoms to remain in their residences, except for essential needs.
March 31, 2020: Lightfoot Secures Hotel Rooms for First Responders
On March 31, 2020, to protect first responders' families from potential COVID-19 exposure, Mayor Lightfoot secured 300 hotel rooms in downtown Chicago for their use.
April 2, 2020: Nomination of David Brown
Lightfoot nominated David Brown to be the permanent superintendent of police on April 2, 2020.
June 2020: Opposition to School Police Removal
Lightfoot opposed an ordinance proposed by Alderman Roderick Sawyer in June 2020, which aimed to terminate the Chicago Public Schools' contract for stationing Chicago Police Department officers in schools.
June 2020: Recognition by Queerty
In June 2020, Queerty included Lightfoot in their list of fifty heroes for her contributions to LGBTQ+ rights and equality, marking the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade.
July 2020: Lightfoot Orders Removal of Christopher Columbus Statue
In July 2020, following protests and attempts to topple the statue after George Floyd's murder, Mayor Lightfoot ordered the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Grant Park.
August 2020: Protest Restrictions and Criticism
Lightfoot faced criticism in August 2020 for prohibiting protests near her residence. She defended this decision citing security concerns and threats she had received.
October 2020: John Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award
Lightfoot was honored with the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) Honorable John Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2020.
November 12, 2020: Lightfoot Issues New Restrictions, Including Stay-at-Home Advisory
On November 12, 2020, Mayor Lightfoot issued new restrictions, including a stay-at-home advisory, amid scrutiny for her attendance at a large gathering celebrating Joe Biden's election victory days earlier.
2020: 2020 Budget Implementation
Lightfoot's budget for the 2020 fiscal year came into effect.
2020: Appearance at Democratic National Convention
Lightfoot appeared in a video presented during the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, alongside other prominent figures like Joe Biden.
2020: Criticism of Police Unions
During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Lightfoot, who had campaigned on a platform of police reform, publicly criticized police unions. She accused them of obstructing efforts to bring about meaningful changes within the Chicago Police Department.
2020: Electoral College Participation
Lightfoot served as a Democratic elector for Illinois in the 2020 U.S. Electoral College, casting her votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
May 2021: Nomination of First Female Fire Commissioner
Lightfoot nominated Annette Nance-Holt to be the city's fire commissioner in May 2021, marking the first time a woman was nominated for this position in Chicago. Nance-Holt was confirmed by the City Council on June 23.
May 19, 2021: Exclusive Interview Policy and Backlash
On May 19, 2021, Lightfoot announced a controversial decision to grant interviews only to journalists of color on the occasion of her two-year anniversary in office. This decision sparked widespread criticism and calls for her resignation. Notably, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Lightfoot on behalf of The Daily Caller, alleging that her policy violated journalist Thomas Catenacci's First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
June 17, 2021: Response to Mass Shootings
On June 17, 2021, following reports from WBEN that Chicago had the highest number of mass shootings in the nation, Lightfoot addressed the city's surge in gun violence, particularly the occurrence of three mass shootings in just four days. Expressing her concern, she acknowledged that Chicago had become an unfortunate member of a group of cities plagued by mass shootings.
July 2021: Pritzker Signs Elected School Board Legislation Despite Lightfoot's Opposition
In July 2021, Governor Pritzker signed legislation creating a 21-member elected school board, a move opposed by Mayor Lightfoot, who had previously advocated for an elected board but deemed this version "unwieldy."
2021: Minimum Wage in Chicago Reaches $15
In 2021, the minimum wage in Chicago reached $15 per hour as part of Mayor Lightfoot's plan, impacting various industries but excluding tipped workers.
February 2022: Basic Income Pilot Program
Lightfoot announced in February 2022 that Chicago would launch a $500-per-month basic income pilot program. Starting in April, residents facing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic could apply for a chance to receive monthly payments for a year. This program, targeting 5,000 participants, was touted as the largest of its kind in the U.S., aiming to provide financial assistance to those hit hardest by the pandemic.
March 2022: Lightfoot Sued for Defamation over Columbus Statue Removal
In March 2022, attorney George Smyrniotis sued Mayor Lightfoot for defamation, alleging she made offensive remarks and threatened to revoke a parade permit over a proposed display of the removed Columbus statue.
May 5, 2022: Lightfoot Selects Bally's Corporation for Chicago Casino Resort
On May 5, 2022, Mayor Lightfoot chose Bally's Corporation's bid to build a casino resort on the west bank of the Chicago River.
February 28, 2023: Loss in Mayoral Election
Lightfoot finished third in the February 28, 2023, Chicago mayoral election, failing to secure a spot in the runoff election.
April 4, 2023: Brandon Johnson's Victory
Brandon Johnson emerged victorious in the April 4, 2023 runoff election for the Chicago mayor's office.
2023: 2023 Mayoral Election
Lightfoot faced a crowded field of nine challengers in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election. Polling results were inconsistent but suggested a tight race, with Lightfoot facing a serious challenge to her re-election bid.
2023: Lori Lightfoot's Time as Mayor Ends
Lori Lightfoot's term as mayor of Chicago ended in 2023. She was the first incumbent mayor not to be reelected since Jane Byrne in 1983.