Chance the Rapper on Thursday endorsed Toni Preckwinkle for mayor of Chicago, just ahead of the city's runoff election.
Chance made the announcement a 10 a.m. news conference at City Hall, calling her the most "qualified person in terms of somebody that's going to look out for all the people of Chicago."
"In terms The person who’s going to account for the police, for victims of gun crime victims, of economic crime - it's Toni Preckwinkle. So I’m fully behind her," he said.
Chance criticized Lightfoot, saying her history as a prosecutor "has not been in the best interest of black people of Chicago."
“I have great respect for Chance and the community activists and organizers across the city who are fighting for social justice,” Lightfoot said in a statement Thursday. “I share their passion and commitment to pursuing true police accountability because we have not had nearly enough progress to date. That’s why I’ve fought for police reform throughout my career. As mayor, I will take my efforts to the next level by working with stakeholders who’ve been engaging in this fight from the get-go. My campaign is about delivering change, which means working together to enact new paradigms and new policies. I would create a robust youth committee to incorporate the perspectives and policy ideas of these activists into our city government. Young people have a voice, we just need to listen.”
Chance said he has "no more money" for Chicago politics, but pledged his time to campaign for Preckwinkle.
“I am proud to have Chance’s endorsement, a musician who has used his voice to inspire other young people to get involved in the political process and in their communities,” Preckwinkle said in a statement. “I admire how he has used his influence to address the inequities in education and criminal justice throughout the city and it speaks to his nature as a public servant at heart. I look forward to collaborating with him to engage youth in the political process and on issues that matter to them.”
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The Chicago rapper first became involved in the mayor’s race when he endorsed Amara Enyia, who did not make it to the runoff. Chance has also joined protests against the new police and fire training academy approved by City Council last week.
Chance’s father, Ken Bennett, a former aide to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has been on Preckwinkle’s team since her September decision to join the mayor’s race.
It was also announced Wednesday that Chance would be among the lineup for the Woodstock festival's 50th anniversary.
