# 1987 Chicago mayoral election

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vte :
* This article is part of a series about Harold Washington
Legislative political career
Illinois House tenure
1975 speakership campaign
Illinois Senate tenure
1975 election
1980 Illinois Human Rights Act
Illinois's 1st congressional district
1980 election
1982 election
Mayoralty
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1987
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Harold Washington Library
Events in the Life of Harold Washington :
vte :
The Chicago mayoral election of 1987 saw the re-election of incumbent Democrat Harold Washington. Partisan primaries were held on February 24, followed by the general election on April 7, 1987. Washington defeated Ed Vrdolyak, the leader of the Vrdolyak 29, who ran on the Illinois Solidarity Party ticket. Former mayor Jane Byrne (who had held office from 1979 until 1983) unsuccessfully challenged Washington in the Democratic primary.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Ran

* Harold Washington, incumbent mayor
* Jane Byrne, former mayor (1979–1983)
* Sheila A. Jones

#### Withdrew

* Thomas Hynes, Cook County assessor (withdrew and ran as "Chicago First" nominee instead

### Campaigning

During incumbent Democratic Party mayor Harold Washington's first term, Ed Vrdolyak (the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and an alderman on the Chicago City Council) and many other city Democrats had opposed his efforts as mayor, thus creating the so-called "Council Wars". At one point, Washington considered running for reelection as an independent (thus forgoing a primary). He had at one point been widely expected to follow-through on these plans. However, Washington ultimately ran for re-nomination, formally announcing his candidacy on November 30, 1986. Former mayor Jane Byrne (who Washington had unseated in 1983 primary) had already declared her own candidacy by this time.
Four years earlier Washington had won nomination against divided opposition, and in 1987 faced a more united bloc of opponents. Nevertheless, Washington won the Democratic primary. Former mayor Jane Byrne challenged Washington in the Democratic primary for mayor. Washington had unseated her in the previous Democratic primary. Richard M. Daley, who (along with Byrne) had been one of Washington's chief opponents in the 1983 primary threw his support behind Washington.
Washington did not attend any debates. Byrne's campaign ads argued that under Washington's tenure racial tensions in Chicago had increased. Byrne's strategy aimed to limit Washington's share of the white vote to a maximum of 10%, while managing to capture 10% of the black vote for herself. Post-election polling indicated that Washington received 96% of the black vote (a greater share than he had received four years earlier). Polling also indicated that he received 21% of the white vote (more than twice what he had received four years earlier). Surveys also indicated that turnout in heavily black precincts had increased since the last election, whilst turnout in heavily white precincts had experienced a small decline.
Washington's victory made 1987 the first Chicago mayoral race since 1975 Chicago mayoral election in which the incumbent mayor won the primary. Also running was Sheila A. Jones, a LaRouche movement devotee.
Cook County assessor Thomas Hynes had originally been running for the Democratic nomination. However, on January 7 he dropped out of the primary. On January 13 he declared that he intended to instead run as the nominee of the "Chicago First" party, a party which he himself had just founded. He and Edward Vrdolyak opted to prepare for possible third-party runs (with Vrdolyak seeking the Illinois Solidarity Party nomination) rather than risk Washington benefiting from a three-way split in the primary election similar to the one in the 1983 primary. Hynes (a career-long Democrat) opted to make a third party run after leading Republican operatives persuaded him to do so.

### Polls

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jane Byrne | Harold Washington | Undecided |
| WBBM-TV | January 1987 | | | 39% | 46% | 15% |

### Results

Turnout was 75.68%.
Washington received 96% of the African-American vote, surpassing the 80% in the 1983 election. Washington received 25% of the white vote, rising from 17% he received in 1983.
Chicago Democratic Party Mayoral Primary, 1987 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- |
| | Harold Washington (incumbent) | 586,841 | 53.50% | +17.22% |
| | Jane Byrne | 507,603 | 46.27% | +12.63% |
| | Sheila Jones | 2,549 | 0.23% | +0.12% |
| Majority | Majority | 79,238 | 7.22% | +2.64% |
| Total | Total | 1,096,993 | 100.00% | N/A |
Two reviews conducted by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and an election watchdog group headed by former U.S. Attorney Dan K. Webb found that tens of thousands of ballots were fraudulently cast by ineligible voters.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Ran

* Donald Haider, business professor and former city budget director
* Chester Hornowski, 35th Ward Republican committeeman and police officer
* Kenneth Hurst, 39th Ward Republican (simultaneously running a campaign for alderman)
* Ray Wardingley, professional clown

#### Disqualified from ballot

* Bernard Epton, 1983 Republican mayoral nominee

#### Withdrew

* Jeremiah E. Joyce, state senator (Democrat)

#### Declined to run

The following individuals received speculation as prospective candidates, but did not run:
* Gary Fencik, Chicago Bears player
* Louis Masotti, urbanist and professor
* Richard B. Ogilvie, former governor of Illinois
* Dan K. Webb, former United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

### Campaigning

At one point it was believed that, if a federal bribery investigation against members of City Hall (including some in Washington's administration) had proved damaging enough to Washington, he might face a particularly notable Republican opponent such as former governor Richard B. Ogilvie or former U.S. attorney Dan K. Webb (the latter of whom had been involved in launching the aforementioned bribery probe). This did not come into fruition. However, what did come to fruition was simultaneous speculation that Democrats may bolt from their party and challenge Washington as a Republican. Before the election, Donald L. Totten (the chairman of the Cook County Republican Party) had unsuccessfully attempted to persuade a number of notable figures (including Ogilvie, Webb, and football star Gary Fencik) to run for mayor as a Republican. Webb did, however, agree to lead a county party search committee to help find a willing candidate. The Chicago Tribune reported that many leading Chicago Republicans were disinterested in running because Illinois' Republican governor (James R. Thompson) was unconcerned with the prospects of a Washington re-election, believing that it would result in a continuation of the chaotic Council Wars. Thompson saw his own position of influence in Illinois politics and enhanced by a discordant local government in Chicago. Thompson publicly denied wanting any implication of him desiring a Washington re-election, however. 1983 Republican nominee Bernard Epton announced his candidacy in 1986, but his run was not greeted with any excitement from figures in the county party.
The Republican Party nominated Donald Haider, a business professor and former city budget director. Haider was formerly a Democrat. Totten had recruited him to run. Haider was the only of Totten's recruits to agree to seek the Republican nomination. Haider was the fifth overall Chicago mayoral candidate to be a resident of Edgewater, and would have been the third mayor from Edgewater if he were elected (and the first since Martin H. Kennelly). Haider was endorsed by the city's Republican Party organization on December 4, 1986. Haider narrowly defeated 1983 nominee Bernard Epton for the Cook County Republican Party's endorsement. Despite the county party endorsing Haider, Epton and Democratic state senator Jeremiah E. Joyce indicated their continued intentions to challenge Haider in the party's primary. Neither of them ultimately were on the primary ballot, however. Epton was disqualified from the ballot and Joyce withdrew. Instead, Haider was challenged by Kenneth Hurst, Chester Hornowski, and Ray Wardingley.
Hurst (the 39th Ward Republican committeeman and was also a candidate for alderman in that ward) was a self-described Reagan Republican He ran for mayor on a platform focusing on a wide number of social issues, including opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, opposition to a gay rights ordinance by the City Council, and opposition to publicly subsidized abortions and the distribution of contraceptives in clinics at public schools. Hornowski was )the 35th Ward Republican committeeman, a police officer, and also a candidate for alderman in the 35th ward) ran for mayor on a "law and order" platform, also pledging to end tax hikes and improve the city's schools. He focused his time more heavily on his coinciding aldermanic campaign, admitting that he had little prospect of becoming mayor. Ray Wardingley (an entertainer who performed as a clown under the name "Spanky the Clown" and had run for mayor twice before) promoted himself as the candidate representing "the little guy".

#### Results

Haider won the primary.

## Illinois Solidarity nomination

Vrdolyak formally received the Illinois Solidarity nomination in the party's primary, held on February 24. His sole opponent in the primary had been a write-in candidate.

## Independents and other third-party candidates

Independent candidate Ronald D. Bartos saw his name removed from the ballot due to issues with his petition.
"Chicago First" nominee Thomas Hynes withdrew two days before the election and threw his support behind Washington's two remaining opponents.

## General election
### Campaign

Some regarded Washington's modest margin of victory in the Democratic primary as an indicator that he would be vulnerable in the general election.
Initially, Chicago First nominee Hynes polled well. He claimed he was a fresh alternative to the dirty infighting that had defined Chicago politics in recent years. Hynes also talked about being the issue-oriented candidate as opposed to some of the other candidates who allegedly talked about each other. As the election drew close, voters opposed to Mayor Washington rallied behind Vrdolyak, Washington's most fiery opponent. Hynes' support waned. Just two days before the general election, Hynes dropped out, leaving Vrdolyak and Haider as Washington's remaining opponents. Hynes did not throw his support to any of the remaining candidates, but suggested that either Vrdolyak or Haider should also drop out make it a one-on-one race against Washington.
During the campaign, in a desperate bid for press, Republican nominee Haider rode an elephant (an animal often used to symbolize the Republican Party) down State Street.
Civil rights activist Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr., campaigned for Washington in predominately African-American neighborhoods throughout the city, most notably at the city's public housing complexes.

### Results

Mayor of Chicago 1987 (general election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Harold Washington (incumbent) | 600,290 | 53.76 |
| | Illinois Solidarity | Edward Vrdolyak | 468,493 | 42.68 |
| | Republican | Donald Haider | 47,652 | 4.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,116,435 | |
Washington won a plurality of the vote in 27 of Chicago's 50 wards (winning a majority in 25 of those wards). Vrdolyak won a plurality in 23 wards (winning a majority in 20 of those wards).
Results by ward
| Ward | Harold Washington (Democratic Party) | Harold Washington (Democratic Party) | Edward Vrdolyak (Solidarity Party) | Edward Vrdolyak (Solidarity Party) | Donald Haider (Republican Party) | Donald Haider (Republican Party) | Total |
| Ward | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes |
| 1 | 12,179 | 59.7% | 7,245 | 35.5% | 977 | 4.8% | 20,401 |
| 2 | 20,018 | 97.6% | 296 | 1.4% | 194 | 0.9% | 20,508 |
| 3 | 20,769 | 99.0% | 113 | 0.5% | 100 | 0.5% | 20,982 |
| 4 | 19,766 | 93.0% | 946 | 4.5% | 540 | 2.5% | 21,252 |
| 5 | 22,543 | 92.2% | 1,256 | 5.1% | 642 | 2.6% | 24,441 |
| 6 | 32,676 | 99.1% | 182 | 0.6% | 117 | 0.4% | 32,975 |
| 7 | 16,072 | 83.6% | 3,049 | 15.9% | 108 | 0.6% | 19,229 |
| 8 | 29,847 | 98.5% | 340 | 1.1% | 102 | 0.3% | 30,289 |
| 9 | 22,012 | 95.0% | 1,036 | 4.5% | 113 | 0.5% | 23,161 |
| 10 | 9,052 | 31.0% | 19,906 | 68.2% | 241 | 0.8% | 29,199 |
| 11 | 4,460 | 20.5% | 16,894 | 77.5% | 432 | 2.0% | 21,786 |
| 12 | 3,337 | 16.5% | 16,186 | 80.2% | 657 | 3.3% | 20,180 |
| 13 | 1,123 | 3.4% | 31,018 | 93.3% | 1,092 | 3.3% | 33,233 |
| 14 | 3,342 | 15.4% | 17,766 | 81.9% | 585 | 2.7% | 21,693 |
| 15 | 18,426 | 79.1% | 4,602 | 19.7% | 278 | 1.2% | 23,306 |
| 16 | 21,954 | 98.9% | 154 | 0.7% | 86 | 0.4% | 22,194 |
| 17 | 25,339 | 99.1% | 126 | 0.5% | 99 | 0.4% | 25,564 |
| 18 | 15,810 | 48.6% | 16,146 | 49.6% | 568 | 1.7% | 32,524 |
| 19 | 6,248 | 19.6% | 23,634 | 74.1% | 1,992 | 6.2% | 31,874 |
| 20 | 21,748 | 98.8% | 146 | 0.7% | 115 | 0.5% | 22,009 |
| 21 | 30,370 | 98.9% | 206 | 0.7% | 138 | 0.4% | 30,714 |
| 22 | 4,006 | 56.0% | 2,963 | 41.4% | 183 | 2.6% | 7,152 |
| 23 | 961 | 3.1% | 28,567 | 93.6% | 994 | 3.3% | 30,522 |
| 24 | 22,741 | 99.0% | 125 | 0.5% | 107 | 0.5% | 22,973 |
| 25 | 4,940 | 50.8% | 4,528 | 46.6% | 249 | 2.6% | 9,717 |
| 26 | 9,027 | 69.4% | 3,543 | 27.2% | 432 | 3.3% | 13,002 |
| 27 | 15,282 | 88.7% | 1,775 | 10.3% | 168 | 1.0% | 17,225 |
| 28 | 19,141 | 99.2% | 82 | 0.4% | 75 | 0.4% | 19,298 |
| 29 | 19,389 | 94.7% | 927 | 4.5% | 153 | 0.7% | 20,469 |
| 30 | 5,160 | 26.5% | 13,319 | 68.3% | 1,011 | 5.2% | 19,490 |
| 31 | 9,332 | 67.0% | 4,123 | 29.6% | 479 | 3.4% | 13,934 |
| 32 | 4,832 | 33.3% | 9,067 | 62.5% | 605 | 4.2% | 14,504 |
| 33 | 4,737 | 30.4% | 9,837 | 63.2% | 1,003 | 6.4% | 15,577 |
| 34 | 27,407 | 98.8% | 231 | 0.8% | 94 | 0.3% | 27,732 |
| 35 | 2,628 | 14.6% | 13,871 | 77.3% | 1,454 | 8.1% | 17,953 |
| 36 | 1,886 | 6.7% | 25,096 | 88.5% | 1,372 | 4.8% | 28,354 |
| 37 | 20,522 | 96.8% | 551 | 2.6% | 130 | 0.6% | 21,203 |
| 38 | 1,292 | 4.6% | 25,024 | 89.5% | 1,659 | 5.9% | 27,975 |
| 39 | 2,731 | 13.2% | 16,308 | 78.9% | 1,632 | 7.9% | 20,671 |
| 40 | 3,050 | 18.7% | 11,518 | 70.7% | 1,724 | 10.6% | 16,292 |
| 41 | 1,582 | 5.2% | 26,530 | 86.8% | 2,461 | 8.0% | 30,573 |
| 42 | 9,680 | 42.1% | 10,215 | 44.4% | 3,100 | 13.5% | 22,995 |
| 43 | 7,723 | 29.3% | 13,707 | 52.1% | 4,897 | 18.6% | 26,327 |
| 44 | 8,002 | 37.8% | 10,389 | 49.1% | 2,756 | 13.0% | 21,147 |
| 45 | 1,562 | 5.5% | 24,812 | 87.2% | 2,064 | 7.3% | 28,438 |
| 46 | 9,944 | 51.4% | 7,564 | 39.1% | 1,844 | 9.5% | 19,352 |
| 47 | 4,161 | 21.8% | 13,008 | 68.2% | 1,896 | 9.9% | 19,065 |
| 48 | 8,789 | 48.5% | 7,348 | 40.6% | 1,966 | 10.9% | 18,103 |
| 49 | 8,269 | 47.1% | 7,496 | 42.7% | 1,809 | 10.3% | 17,574 |
| 50 | 4,385 | 20.7% | 14,673 | 69.2% | 2,155 | 10.2% | 21,213 |
| Total | 600,252 | 53.8% | 468,444 | 42.0% | 47,648 | 4.3% | 1,116,344 |