Five out of 18 aldermanic races in the runoff election were too close to call as of early Wednesday morning.
In the 10th ward, the incumbent John Pope and challenger Susan Sadlowski Garza were neck-and-neck. Pope, who was first elected in 1999, had 49.97 percent of the vote to Sadlowski Garza's 50.03 percent. Only seven votes separated the two candidates.
Ald. Pope did not go into a runoff during the last two elections and handily defeated his opponents.
Sadlowski Garza ran a strong campaign that included a recent endorsement by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who also endorsed Jesus "Chuy" Garcia for mayor.
The 10th ward sits in the Far Southeast Side of Chicago and covers parts of South Chicago, East Side, South Deering, Calumet Heights, Hegewisch and Arizona. Among the biggest issues in the election were the environment, factory pollution, a lack of jobs and a need for more local businesses.
The 16th ward faced a unique election when current Ald. JoAnn Thompson passed away a few weeks before the Feb. 24 election. The current 15th ward Ald. Toni Foulkes ran against Stephanie Coleman to replace Thompson.
Foulkes held a lead of only 138 votes.
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The major issues in the ward, which covers parts of Englewood, Gage Park, West Englewood and Chicago Lawn, were public safety and economic development.
A big race brewed in the 31st ward where Ald. Ray Suarez, who has been in office since 1991, seemed to come just short of a victory against challenger Milly Santiago. Suarez held 49.2 percent of the vote to Santiago's 50.8 percent with a margin of only 131 votes.
Although Suarez has 24 years of experience as alderman, Santiago received key endorsements from the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.
The 31st ward sits in a steadily gentrifying part of Chicago, covering parts of Hermosa, Belmont-Cragin and Logan Square. Among the key issues in this contested election were safety and education.
It appeared another incumbent would be defeated by a challenger in the 41st ward as well. Ald. Mary O'Connor held 48 percent of the vote to Anthony Napolitano's 52 percent.
The contentious race centered around noise pollution from nearby O'Hare International Airport. The Far Northwest neighborhood covers parts of Edison Park, Edgebrook and Norwood Park and includes the airport within its boundaries.
Ald. Michele Smith faced a challenging re-election campaign in the 43rd ward as she faced Caroline Vickrey. Smith holds a lead of just 98 votes.
The biggest issue in the 43rd ward was the redevelopment plans for the former site of Children's Memorial Hospital, which sits near the busy intersection of Fullerton, Lincoln and Halsted in Lincoln Park.
The 43rd ward covers parts of Old Town in addition to Lincoln Park.
The aldermanic race in the 46th ward was heated throughout the entire election season as the incumbent Ald. James Cappleman fiercely divided his supporters and opponents. Cappleman faced off against Amy Crawford, a lawyer.
Cappleman appeared to be the winner, but the race was close. He held 53.8 percent of the vote to Crawford's 46.2 percent.
The 46th ward covers parts of Uptown, Buena Park and Lakeview. Among the central issues in the race were the development of Uptown, crime and homelessness.
Unofficial aldermanic runoff results:
- 2nd Ward: In Ald. Bob Fioretti's ward, Brian Hopkins took 56.3 percent of the votes to Alyx Pattison's 43.7 percent.
- 7th Ward: Gregory Mitchell held 56.8 percent to incumbent Natashia Holmes' 43.2 percent. Holmes replaced the former Ald. Sandi Jackson.
- 10th Ward: Incumbent John Pope had 49.97 percent of votes, and challenger Susan Sadlowski Garza took 50.03 percent.
- 11th Ward: Patrick Daley Thompson took 57.9 percent John Kozlar's 42.1 percent.
- 15th Ward: Raymond Lopez held 57.6 percent of the vote to Rafael Yanez's 42.4 percent.
- 16th Ward: 15th ward Ald. Toni Foulkes held a slight lead over Stephanie Coleman with 51 percent to Coleman's 49 percent.
- 18th Ward: Derrick Curtis took a commanding lead over incumbent Ald. Lona Lane with 67.9 percent of the vote to Lane's 32.1 percent.
- 20th Ward: Incumbent Ald. Willie Cochran held 55.5 percent of the vote to Kevin Bailey's 44.5 percent.
- 21st Ward: Incumbent Ald. Howard Brookins, Jr., fended off challenger Marvin McNeil with just 50.7 percent of the vote.
- 24th Ward: Michael Scott, Jr., led the race with 67.4 percent of the vote to Vetress Boyce's 32.6 percent.
- 29th Ward: Chris Taliaferro unseated incumbent Ald. Deborah Graham with 52.1 percent of the vote.
- 31st Ward: Incumbent Ald. Ray Suarez lost to challenger Milly Santiago, who took 50.8 percent of the vote.
- 36th Ward: Gilbert Villegas led the race with 56 percent of the vote to Omar Aquino's 44 percent.
- 37th Ward: Emma Mitts took 52.7 percent of the vote to Tara Stamps' 47.3 percent.
- 41st Ward: Anthony Napolitano unseated incumbent Ald. Mary O'Connor with 52 percent of the vote.
- 43rd Ward: Incumbent Ald. Michele Smith barely held onto the lead with 50.4 percent of the vote to Caroline Vickrey's 49.6 percent.
- 45th Ward: John Arena won re-election against John Garrido with 53.8 percent of the vote.
- 46th Ward: Incumbent Ald. John Cappleman held off challenger Amy Crawford with 53.8 percent of the vote.
Visit Decision 2015 for full Chicago election results.
