Working Families Rally Behind Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s Progressive Agenda in Stunning Comeback Election to Force Runoff with Mayor Emanuel

Courtesy of SEIU

Working families throughout Chicago were ecstatic and celebrated the stunning come-from-behind success from longtime progressive champion Jesus “Chuy” Garcia to force a runoff against Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

In the closing weeks of the election, Chuy Garcia’s progressive vision galvanized working families and offered voters a true alternative to Emanuel who suffered an embarrassing setback Tuesday night.

Voters also sent a strong message in aldermanic races, with the large number headed into runoff signaling disgust with politics as usual—in favor of elected officials committed to the needs of working families.

In addition to the mayoral and aldermanic contests, voters overwhelmingly supported a referendum for an elected school board which Emanuel controls. Emanuel stacked the school board with his allies who enacted his policies to weaken public education, press his charter school agenda, and who rubber-stamped Emanuel’s plan to close 53 neighborhood schools that serve communities of color.