West Cook News

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is said to be spending money in bunches on her reelection campaign, even topping what her campaign is estimated to be bringing in; a recent Chicago Tribune report said.

“It’s campaign season," she said. "We’re about 40 days out from an election. 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.”

With a little more than a month remaining before election day, the first-term mayor remains locked in a tight race against eight rivals looking to unseat her; the Tribune reported. Several of those candidates are reported to be flush with as much cash as the mayor as they battle to sell their messages to voters.

Lightfoot kicked off the quarter with nearly $3 million in the coffers, and her campaign raised almost $1.5 million more between October and December of 2022; the Tribune said. Over that same time frame, her campaign reportedly spent approximately $3 million, with $2 million of it going toward advertising, according to filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Among the remaining candidates, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson raised more money than any other candidate during the final quarter of the year, pulling in upwards of $1.1 million; the Tribune said. Much of that amount came from progressives and the unions that support him, including the powerful Chicago Teachers Union.