Former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot will be the next mayor of Chicago.

Lightfoot defeated Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Tuesday, making her the first Black woman and openly gay person elected mayor, reports The Associated Press.

Lightfoot scored 76.3% of the vote to her opponent’s 26.3%. By 8 p.m. local time, the AP called the election in her favor.

Lightfoot presented herself as an example during her victory speech, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

“Out there tonight, a lot of little girls and boys are watching … They’re seeing the beginning of something, well, a little bit different,” she said. “They’re seeing a city reborn, a city where it doesn’t matter what color you are and where it surely doesn’t matter how tall you are.”

“Where it doesn’t matter who you love just as long as you love with all your heart,” Lightfoot continued. “In the Chicago we will build together, we will celebrate our differences. We will embrace our uniqueness. And we will make certain that all have every opportunity to succeed.”

Preckwinkle called to the congratulate Lightfoot before she conceded.

“This may not be the outcome we wanted. But, while I may be disappointed, I’m not disheartened. For one thing, this is clearly an historic night,” Preckwinkle told her supporters.

“Not long ago, two African American women vying for this position would have been unthinkable. And while it may be true that we took different paths to get here, tonight is about the path forward.”

Lightfoot was an unlikely winner when she entered the race, but her prospects changed when a corruption scandal hit Chicago City Hall. Preckwinkle’s connection to Alderman Edward Burke, who is accused of attempted extortion, hurt her campaign. One of Burke’s schemes involved securing funds for a donation to Preckwinkle’s campaign.

“Ed Burke fundamentally changed the race. After that, it was a throw-the-bums-out electorate,” an anonymous Preckwinkle worker said. “The only question was, who was gonna be defined as the anti-establishment candidate. It turned out to be Lori. She spent an entire year holding press conferences blasting City Hall.”

This will be Lightfoot’s first time in public office. Preckwinkle tried to use Lightfoot’s lack of experience against her.

“This is not an entry-level job,” she said several times on the campaign trail.

Lightfoot worker Jason McGrath believes Lightfoot’s inexperience turned out to be an asset.

“That didn’t come out of nowhere. Peoples’ frustrations and desire … for somebody who’s got independence from the broken machine — that didn’t spring from the Burger King story. That started months before,” McGrath said.

Lightfoot promised to snuff out corruption during her victory lap.

“We can and we will build trust between our people and our brave police officers so that the communities and police trust each other–not fear each other,” Lightfoot said.

“We can and we will break this city’s endless cycle of corruption. And never again — never, ever — allow politicians to profit from elected positions.”

Lightfoot will be sworn in on May 20.

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Edward Burke

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