Ald. Sophia King Announces Run for Mayor in 2023

Sophia King, a 4th Ward alderman and the head of the city council’s progressive caucus, made her candidacy for mayor in 2023 official on Wednesday. Becoming the third sitting alderman, the seventh African American, and the ninth candidate overall vying to unseat Lori Lightfoot.

King, 57, announced her candidacy for mayor in a manner similar to how Lori Lightfoot announced her candidacy for a second term: through a carefully crafted campaign video. The video begins with King walking past 43rd Street and Berkley Avenue where a shooting occurred a few days after she took office. She also criticizes Mayor Lightfoot’s weaknesses which include violent crimes and public perception of them.

“There is a lot of tension in this city,” King explained to the Sun-Times. Adding that she will create collaboration through her leadership. She also says that people seek out that sort of cooperation, they want us to work together more and more effectively.

A Little Background

Evanston, Illinois, is where King was raised. She spent a lot of time in Mississippi as a youngster and young adult. Her family is from the Mississippi Delta. Later, her family moved to the Chicago area after her mother was given the chance to attend Northwestern University in Evanston.

Her mother’s life path served as an example of the value of education, a commitment to hard effort, and the influence of opportunity on one’s course in life. As she became older, Sophia never lost touch with her roots or the people who had taught her the importance of relationships and family, and she learned that a good life is not determined by material success.

King acquired a distinctive perspective on the value of small companies to a community during her five years as a small business owner in the 4th Ward. Her understanding of the difficulties faced by a new business inspired her to become an advocate. She works with the government as a means of assisting community-based businesses.

The alderman has boosted employment prospects for youth and those in need. As a consequence of her strong motivation and dedication, she has emerged as a steadfast supporter of expanding minority enterprises and equitable DBE representation in City contracts.

King has aggressively forged connections among the community’s multicultural population to tackle some of the city’s most pressing issues. Whether she was fighting for youth programs as the president of the Kenwood Park Advisory Council, promoting women’s reproductive rights as the vice president of Planned Parenthood Chicago, organizing a community response to gun violence with The It’s Time Organization (TITO), or instructing and empowering African American women and businesses with Harriet’s Daughters by arguing for more inclusion in city and state contracts. King has expertly brought people together and engaged them in her causes. Throughout her time serving as an alderman, she has continued to employ this talent.

“If she makes the runoff,” Veteran political operative Victor Reyes said. “She can win.”

Written By Dylan Santoyo
Edited by Sheena Robertson

Sources:

Chicago Sun-Times: Ald. Sophia King joins race to unseat Lightfoot

Block Club Chicago: Ald. Sophia King Announces Run For Mayor In 2023

Alderman 4th Ward: Meet Sophia

Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Chris Stroup’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Conal Gallagher‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License