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2003 Chicago mayoral election

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2003 Chicago mayoral election

← 1999 February 25, 2003 2007 →
Turnout32.26%[1][2] Decrease 9.64 pp
 
Candidate Richard M. Daley Paul Jakes Patricia McAllister
Popular vote 363,553 64,941 27,350
Percentage 78.46% 14.02% 5.90%

Results by ward:
Daley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Mayor before election

Richard M. Daley

Elected Mayor

Richard M. Daley

The Chicago mayoral election of 2003 saw incumbent Mayor Richard M. Daley easily reelected against small and divided opposition, resulting in his best electoral showing of his career, winning by a landslide 64 point margin.

By winning his fifth mayoral election, Daley tied Carter Harrison Sr. and Carter Harrison Jr. for the second-most mayoral election victories in Chicago history. Daley would subsequently win an additional mayoral election in 2007, thereby surpassing both Harrisons and tying his own father's record for the most mayoral election victories.

Campaign

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On December 9, 2002, a spokesperson for Daley confirmed that Daley would be announcing his candidacy for reelection.[3] Daley's candidacy was widely anticipated.[3] A popular incumbent, Daley had won strong victories in the preceding four consecutive mayoral elections.[3]

All three of Daley's opponents were African Americans.[4][5][6][7] Both Jakes,[6] and McAfee[7] were clergy. McAllister was a businesswoman.[5]

Also briefly challenging Daley, but withdrawing from the race, had been James Meeks.[8]

All of Daley's opponents on the ballot had little electoral experience.[4] They struggled in fundraising and failed to receive backing from black leaders.[4] They also lacked name recognition.[4][3] Their prospects of unseating Daley were seen as dim.[5]

While the election was nonpartisan, all candidates running were Democrats.[9]

As was the case in all of his reelection campaigns, Daley did not attend any debates.[10]

Endorsements

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Results

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The election saw what was, up to that point, the lowest turnout in Chicago mayoral election history.[4] Daley won a majority of the vote in each of the city's 50 wards.[1]

Mayor of Chicago 2003[1][2] (General Election)
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Richard M. Daley (incumbent) 363,553 78.46
Nonpartisan Paul L. Jakes Jr. 64,941 14.02
Nonpartisan Patricia McAllister 27,350 5.90
Nonpartisan Joseph McAfee 7,488 1.62
Write-in Johnnie H. Barnes 2 0.00
Write-in Joel W. Britton 1 0.00
Turnout 463,335

Results by ward

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2003 Municipal General - 2/25/03".
  2. ^ a b "TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003 A.D." (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Chicago's Mayor Plans to Seek Re-election". The New York Times. The Associated Press. December 9, 2002. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Daley: A Retrospective: A Historical Exploration of Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley by Chicago Tribune Staff Dec 18, 2012
  5. ^ a b c Daley Reign Continues In Chicago by Jarrett Murphy (Associated Press) February 26, 2003
  6. ^ a b Jakes, a true believer, stands alone - Chicago Tribune
  7. ^ a b Rev. Moon and the black clergy - Chicago Tribune
  8. ^ Felton, Robert (January 10, 2007). "Dorothy Brown reacts to criticism from Meeks". www.austinweeklynews.com. Austin Weekly News. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Morris, Joseph A. (February 23, 2003). "MAYORAL ELECTION". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
  10. ^ Chicago's Long-Running Daley Show Ken Rudin February 21, 2007