Chicago’s 2023 Mayoral Race: Reclaiming Harold Washington’s Multiracial Coalition
Event Summary
The Great Cities Institute hosted “Chicago’s 2023 Mayoral Race: Reclaiming Harold Washington’s Multiracial Coalition,” a public forum reflecting on the legacy of Chicago’s first Black mayor and its relevance for contemporary urban politics. Held on March 27, 2023, the event revisited the historic coalition Harold Washington built in 1983—uniting Black, Latino, progressive white, and immigrant communities—and examined what lessons it offers amid a new mayoral contest forty years later.
Moderated by Juan González, Senior Fellow at the Great Cities Institute and co-host of Democracy Now!, the discussion brought together leading scholars of race, urban history, and political movements. Panelists included Gordon Mantler, Jakobi Williams, and Lilia Fernández, each offering historical and analytical perspectives on coalition politics in Chicago.
Panelists examined how Washington’s multiracial alliance reshaped city governance, challenged entrenched political machines, and redefined democratic participation during the Reagan era. They also addressed the fragility of coalition-building, noting how Washington’s untimely death in 1987 disrupted a transformative political moment and left unresolved questions about sustaining progressive urban governance.
The conversation connected these historical insights to present-day challenges, including racial polarization, voter mobilization, economic inequality, and the role of social movements in shaping electoral outcomes. Speakers emphasized that Washington’s legacy was not merely symbolic, but grounded in disciplined organizing, shared material interests, and a moral vision of inclusive democracy.
Ultimately, the forum invited Chicagoans to reflect on how multiracial coalitions are built, maintained, and renewed—and what it would take to reclaim that tradition in the city’s evolving political landscape.