North Cook News

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is likely facing an uphill battle in her reelection campaign and appears ready to spend money in an effort to keep her job.

Lightfoot is spending money, even exceeding the amount her campaign is reported to be raising, as she told the newspaper it is campaign time; a recent Chicago Tribune report said.

“We’re about 40 days out from an election,” she told the Tribune. “Of course we’re spending money. We’re spending money to be on TV, we’re spending money on our field operation, we’re spending money on voter engagement. I’m not one who thinks that the thing to do is continue to hoard money.”

The first-term mayor is facing eight opponents who would like to take her job, with several having campaign war chests just as flush as her own as they seek to sway voters; the Tribune said.

Lightfoot started the quarter with approximately $3 million on hand, and her campaign raised another $1.5 million from October to December; the Tribune said. Over that period, the campaign put out an estimated $3 million. Most of that amount went for advertising, according to cited filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson raised more than any of the other mayoral candidates, the Tribune said. He raised approximately $1.1 million during the final quarter of 2022, with much of that financial support coming from unions backing him, including the Chicago Teachers Union as well as progressives.