(Headline USA) Chicago Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot claimed this week that she “misspoke” at a campaign rally when she told voters to “stay home” if they didn’t plan to vote for her reelection.
At a campaign event over the weekend, Lightfoot blasted her opponents, U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. She said, “If you want them controlling your fate and your destiny, then stay home. Then don’t vote.”
When asked about her comments on Monday, Lightfoot claimed she got swept up in the “heat of the moment.”
“If I said anything other than everybody everywhere needs to vote, then I misspoke in the heat of a campaign rally,” she said. “But I’ve been very consistent all along saying everybody everywhere needs to step up, and they need to vote just as I said today.”
Lightfoot’s opponents were quick to use her comments against her.
“This is disqualifying rhetoric for anyone hoping to lead a Chicago that is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic city,” Garcia said in a statement.
Johnson agreed, saying Chicagoans are ready for “real leadership.”
“Lori Lightfoot telling residents not to vote unless they vote for her shows that she cares more about maintaining power for herself than empowering communities or getting things done for the people of our city,” he said.
This is just the latest scandal to plague Lightfoot’s reelection campaign. Earlier this year, it was reported that Lightfoot’s campaign leveraged her connections with teachers union officials to solicit support from Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges staff.
Lightfoot claimed the collusion had been a “bad mistake” by one young staffer. But a recent report found that Lightfoot’s campaign had been sending CPS and City Colleges staff thousands of emails – more than 9,900 in total — for months. The emails included fundraising appeals, invitations to private town halls, and requests for help gathering petitions.
