Misplaced Pages

2007 Chicago mayoral election

← 2003 February 27, 2007 2011 →
Turnout	32.44% 0.20 pp
Candidate Richard M. Daley Dorothy Brown William Walls Popular vote 324,519 91,878 40,368 Percentage 71.05% 20.12% 8.84%
Results by ward: Daley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Mayor before election Richard M. Daley Elected Mayor Richard M. Daley

Elections in Illinois
Federal government U.S. Presidential elections 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 Dem Rep 1988 1992 1996 Dem Rep 2000 Dem Rep 2004 Dem Rep 2008 Dem Rep 2012 Dem Rep 2016 Dem Rep 2020 Dem Rep 2024 Dem Rep U.S. Senate elections 1818 1819 1823 1824 1824 sp 1825 1830 sp 1831 1835 1837 1843 1846 1849 1849 sp 1853 1859 1861 1863 sp 1867 1879 1882 1885 1885 sp 1887 sp 1888 1890 1894 1896 1897 1901 1903 1907 1909 1913 1913 sp 1914 1918 1920 1924 1926 1928 sp 1930 1932 1936 1938 1940 sp 1942 1944 1948 1950 1954 1956 1960 1962 1966 1968 1970 sp 1972 1974 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2010 sp 2014 2016 2020 2022 2026 U.S. House elections 1818 1819 1820 1822 1824 1826 1828 1831 1832 1834 1836 1838 1840 1842 1844 1846 1848 1850 1852 1854 1856 1858 1859 6th sp 1860 1861 6th sp 1862 1864 1866 1868 1870 1871 AL sp 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1895 10th sp 18th sp 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 4th sp 1920 1922 AL sp 1923 2nd sp 4th sp 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 19th sp 1946 1948 1950 1952 1953 7th sp 1954 1956 1957 7th sp 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 13th sp 1970 6th sp 1972 15th sp 1973 7th sp 1974 1975 5th sp 1976 1978 1980 10th sp 1982 1983 1st sp 1984 1985 14th sp 1986 1988 21st sp 1990 1991 15th sp 1992 1994 1995 2nd sp 1996 1998 2000 1st 2002 2004 2006 2008 14th sp 2009 5th sp 2010 17th 2012 2013 2nd sp 2014 2015 18th sp 2016 2018 2020 2022 1st 2024
State government General elections 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Gubernatorial elections 1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections 1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 Attorney General elections 2018 2022 Secretary of State elections 2022 Comptroller elections 2016 Senate elections 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 House of Representatives elections 1964 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Judicial elections 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Ballot measures and referendums State capitol referendum (1834) Cutback Amendment (1980) Crime Victim Rights Amendment (1992) Illinois Governor Recall Amendment (2010) Public Pension Amendment (2012) Marsy's Law (2014) Right to Vote Amendment (2014) Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment (2016) Fair Tax (2020) Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment (2022)
Chicago General elections 2019 2023 Mayoral elections 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1876 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1893 sp 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1977 sp 1979 1983 1987 1989 sp 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 2027 Aldermanic elections 1923 1925 1927 1929 2011 2015 2019 2023 Chicago Board of Education elections 2024 2026
Cook County County elections 1946 1980 State's Attorney 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Rockford Mayoral elections 2021
v t e

The Chicago mayoral election of 2007 saw incumbent mayor Richard M. Daley win a landslide victory, garnering a 51-point margin of victory.

Daley was opposed by Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown and William "Dock" Walls.

Candidates

• Dorothy Brown, Cook County Clerk
• Richard M. Daley, incumbent mayor
• William "Dock" Walls III, former aide to Harold Washington

Nominations invalid

The following candidates had their nominations deemed invalid by the Chicago Board of Elections, and thus were denied inclusion on the ballot:

• Thomas O'Brien
• Ziff Anthony Sistrunk
• Syron S. Smith, community activist

Declined

• Luis Gutiérrez, congressman
• Jesse Jackson Jr., congressman

Campaign

Despite speculation that they might challenge Daley, congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Jesse Jackson Jr. both opted not run. Both had explored potential runs, but declared that they had opted to remain in Washington, D.C. after the Democratic Party captured control of the United States House of Representatives in the November 2006 congressional elections. Gutierrez had been exploring a 2007 bid for mayor at least as early as December 2005, when he publicly confirmed his interest in possibly running. Some analysts speculated that the true reason that both men opted against running was that they had both concluded that they lacked viable prospects of unseating Daley.

In the previous election Daley faced opponents who lacked significant campaign experience. With Brown's entry into the 2007 election, Daley was faced with an opponent with significant electoral experience. In her 2004 reelection as clerk, Brown had received just under 800,000 votes in the city of Chicago.

While both Brown and Walls were African Americans, neither were able to coalesce strong support from black voters. They also failed to enthuse much support from other groups.

While the election was nonpartisan, all three candidates were members of the Democratic Party.

Brown ran an issue-focused campaign, releasing policy papers on housing, ethics, transportation, public safety, and economic development. Some argued that, in her campaign, Brown was too light on Daley, failing to hammer him with criticism. Brown's campaign failed to garner endorsements. Walls criticized Daley's hiring practices.

Daley massively eclipsed his opponents in fundraising. Daley had nearly $6 million in funds, while Brown had less than $200,000 and Walls had less than $10,000.

Daley's fundraising advantage allowed him to run a three-week long barrage of television advertisements in advance of the election.

Daley made use of Democratic organizations in the city's wards to run his field operations.

As was the case in all of his reelection campaigns, Daley did not attend any debates.

Chicago Housing Authority head Terry Peterson resigned his position to serve as Daley's campaign manager.

Endorsements

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2018)

Organizations

• Americans for Democratic Action
• Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization

Individuals

• Luis Gutierrez, congressman
• Barack Obama, U.S. senator and candidate for the Democratic Party presidential nomination
• Bobby Rush, congressman

Newspapers

• Chicago Tribune

Results

Daley won a plurality in each of Chicago's fifty wards, and obtained an absolute majority in forty-nine.

Daley even beat Brown by a broad margin in her home ward, the city's 8th ward.

Voter turnout increased slightly from the previous election, but was still the second-lowest turnout in a Chicago mayoral election. Only one-third of the city's 1.4 million registered voters participated in the election.

Results by ward

Aftermath

Daley delivered a brief election night victory speech at the Chicago Hilton & Towers.

By winning the election, Daley had secured a sixth term as mayor (his fifth full four-year term, since he had first become mayor in a special election to a partial term following the death of Harold Washington). By winning his sixth mayoral election, Daley tied the record set by his father for the most Chicago mayoral election victories. During his last term, Daley surpassed his father as the longest-tenured mayor in Chicago history. This term was Daley's last, as he declined to seek reelection in 2011.

In her concession speech Brown congratulated Daley but urged residents of Chicago, "to hold this mayor accountable". She also declared that voters had, "not seen the last of Dorothy Brown". Brown would explain her loss by declaring that she believed that voters had failed to, "understand the magnitude of the crime and corruption," which had occurred under Daley's tenure. Brown was subsequently reelected as Clerk in 2008, 2012, and 2016. She ran unsuccessfully for President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2010. She ran for mayor again in the 2019 election, but failed to qualify for inclusion on the ballot.

Walls ran for mayor again in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

References

1. "2007 Municipal General - 2/27/07". chicagoelections.gov. Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago.
2. ^ "TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2007 A.D." (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
3. ^ Daley: A Retrospective: A Historical Exploration of Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley by Chicago Tribune Staff Dec 18, 2012
4. ^ Chicago's Long-Running Daley Show Ken Rudin February 21, 2007
5. "Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board, Case No: 07-EB-MUN-009 (rel.07-EB-MUN-003)" (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. January 9, 2007.
6. "Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board, Case No: 07-EB-MUN-013 (rel.MUN-007, MUN-016)" (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. January 19, 2007.
7. "Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board, Case No: 07-EB-MUN-007 (rel.MUN-013, MUN-016)" (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. January 19, 2007.
8. "Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board, Case No: 07-EB-MUN-016 (rel.MUN-007, MUN-013)" (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. January 19, 2007.
9. "Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board, Case No: 07-EB-MUN-015 (rel.MUN-008, MUN-012)" (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. January 9, 2007.
10. "Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board, Case No: 07-EB-MUN-012 (rel.MUN-008, MUN-015)" (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. January 9, 2007.
11. Felton, Robert (January 10, 2007). "Dorothy Brown reacts to criticism from Meeks". www.austinweeklynews.com. Austin Weekly News. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
12. ^ Gutierrez decides to back Daley - Chicago Tribune
13. "Gutierrez passes on Chicago mayor". Politico. October 14, 2010.
14. Illinois Democrat Gutierrez Confirms Retirement Plans By CQ Staff Published: March 6, 2007
15. ^ Spielman, Fran (April 19, 2018). "'Flabbergasted': Some can't understand Dorothy Brown's decision to run for mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
16. "No more Ms. Nice Gal". January 10, 2007.
17. "New boss, same as the old boss?". January 11, 2007.
18. Rhodes, Steve (September 29, 2009). "The CTA's New Chairman an Old Crony". NBC Chicago. WMAQ-TV. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
19. Dardick, Hal; Hilkevitch, Jon (September 30, 2009). "Daley taps ex-campaign manager to lead CTA board". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
20. ^ "Dorothy Brown for Mayor of Chicago". www.electdorothybrownmayor.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
21. The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate Front Cover David Freddoso Regnery Publishing, Jul 15, 2008
22. washingtonpost.com Obama and the Illinois Political Machine By DEANNA BELLANDI The Associated Press Monday, February 26, 2007
23. "Our Campaigns - Chicago Mayor Race - Feb 27, 2007".
24. ^ "2007 Municipal General - 2/27/07".
25. Denvir, Daniel (May 22, 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". Bloomberg. City Lab (The Atlantic). Retrieved December 11, 2018.
26. Spielman, Fran (April 19, 2018). "'Flabbergasted': Some can't understand Dorothy Brown's decision to run for mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
27. ^ "Amid federal investigation, Dorothy Brown to run for mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
28. "Dorothy Brown Removed From Ballot In Race For Mayor". CBS Chicago. January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
29. Walls, William "Dock" (November 27, 2018). "Thank you for your support. Even though we had enough signatures to run for mayor, I decided not to turn them in. Someone has to take the first step towards uniting behind 1 candidate who will put the community first" (Tweet). Retrieved December 5, 2018 – via Twitter.
30. Bremer, Shelby (November 14, 2018). "These Are the Candidates Currently Running for Chicago Mayor". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

• Mayoral elections in Chicago
• 2007 United States mayoral elections
• 2007 Illinois elections
• 2007 in Chicago
• Richard M. Daley