Unofficial results from last week’s election continue to show Ald. Chris Taliaferro the likely winner in the 29th Ward and avoiding an April 4th runoff.
As of March 6, Taliaferro had received 4,853 votes in the Feb. 28th election – or 50.37% of the votes cast, while challenger CB Johnson had received 3,881 votes – or 40.28% of the vote. (A third candidate, Corey Dooley, had received 900 of the votes cast – or 9.34% – and conceded the election last week.)
More ballots will be counted and added to the unofficial results daily through March 14, the date by which all mail-in ballots have to be received by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
There remain 678 outstanding mail-in ballots from the 29th Ward that have not yet been returned to the election board, but Taliaferro leads Johnson by nearly 1,000 votes.
Taliaferro’s lead has narrowed slightly over the last week as mail-in ballots have been processed. On election night, AustinTalks reported the two-term incumbent was leading with 51.5% of the vote and nearly 90% of precincts reporting.
Two of the three seats on the newly created 15th Police District Council seem to be decided, with Karen Winters getting the greatest number of votes: 3,496, or 22.4 % of the votes cast, and Deondre Rutues coming in second with 2,492 votes, or 15.97% of the total.
A handful of votes separate three other candidates who are vying for the third seat on the 15th Police District Council: Darius Newsome (2,221 votes, or 14.23%); Carmelita P. Earls (2,217 votes or 14.21%); and Oddis “OJ” Johnson (2,198, or 14.08%).
The eventual winners will serve a four-year term, earning $500 a month.
To see all the unofficial results from last week’s election, click here.