What's Next in the Race for Chicago Mayor

The runoff election is set for April 2 between the top two vote getters in the February vote - Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot

The Chicago mayoral election has already made history in more ways than one - and it's not over yet.

The battle will now continue well beyond Tuesday as Chicagoans prepare for another round of voting. The runoff election is set for April 2 between the top two vote getters in the February vote - Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot. 

No matter who wins the runoff, Chicago's next mayor will be an African-American woman for the first time in the city's history. 

As Lori Lightfoot delivered her victory speech to a crowd of cheering supporters, she thanked her family, staff and "those who had the courage to stand with our campaign against the machine." Lightfoot will join Toni Preckwinkle in the April runoff election for Chicago mayor.

Election officials questioned if the runoff election will see a larger voter turnout than Tuesday's Election Day, which ended with a near-record low for the city. 

“We've seen a remarkable number of institutions and individuals be reluctant to even offer an endorsement saying they’ll wait until April 2 and it’s possible voters have done the same," Chicago Election Board spokesman Jim Allen said. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Toni Preckwinkle told supporters, noting “our fight is far from over.”

With a runoff required, voters who requested a mail-in ballot will have to request another one for the runoff election and the State Board of Elections will send emails to mail-in voters notifying them of the new ballot.  

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