Chicago Vote 2008
Bill Healy/MEDILL
Obama election reflects growing political power of minorities
by Jessica Dill
For the past 80 years, Illinois has been a front runner in electing minorities into political positions. With an African American now holding the highest political position in the country, political experts predict more states will start to elect Latino and African American officials.
Emanuel's GOP challenger, Dem state legislator say they'll seek his open seat
by Daniel Lambert
Like a row of dominos, Illinois politicians are quickly falling into new positions as the result of Barack Obama’s rise to the presidency.
Area rabbis react to Obama's win
by Alison Flowers
Three north Chicago rabbis discuss Obama's win and what it could mean for Israel.
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Chicago-area rabbis react to Obama's victoryDissecting the phenomenon of a Sarah Palin rally
by Erin Halasz
John McCain and Sarah Palin may have lost, but a week before the election, Palin's attitudes and energy captivated conservatives, perhaps leaving her political future wide open. Reporter Erin Halasz traveled to Bowling Green, Ohio, to observe this political-cultural event.
Greens seek to be Chicago's second party
by Jen Thomas
The Illinois Green Party has yet to have a candidate elected to a partisan public office but officials predict a shift in the way Illinois residents vote as more and more people become attracted to Green ideals.
Altgeld Gardens residents proud of Obama victory
by Bill Healy and Susan Dosemagen
Barack Obama came as a community organizer to the Altgeld Gardens housing project on Chicago's Far South Side in 1985. Residents of the neighborhood describe their reaction to Obama's election day win and what Obama's victory might mean for them.
Holding their breath, then bursting with joy
by Todd Johnson
President-elect Barack Obama's rally Tuesday night attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters. The excitement in Grant Park reached its peak when the announcement of Obama's historic victory finally came.
Witnesses to history
by Bill Healy
Hundreds of thousands gathered in Grant Park to support Barack Obama Tuesday night.
Building up to victory
by Melina Kolb
Chicagoans await and celebrate their hometown hero's victory in the presidential election in Grant Park.
No curse from this goat
by Hamsa Ramesha
A crowd-pleaser Tuesday night: One person at the rally brought a plastic goat that sported a sign for Obama.
Obama's hometown throws him a party
by Samantha Abernethy
Chicago threw the nation a whale of a party Tuesday night to celebrate the election of Barack Obama. Young and old, black, Latino and white, voters and non-voters gathered in and around Grant Park. Here's what the scene was like there and elsewhere around the city
On Election Day, a candidate runs – and runs – on adrenaline
by Jen Thomas
When you're running for office, your day starts early on Election Day. For Green Party candidate Jeremy Karp, who is running against a three-term Democratic incumbent for a state House seat, he bounded out of bed at 3 a.m. and beelined for polling places to persuade voters to mark their ballots for him.
From trailer parks to country clubs, excitement infuses polling places
by Daniel Lambert
A journey through polling places on the South Side uncovers McCain relatives, high turnout and questionable election judge decisions.
Nonvoters speak, but not at polls
by Matt Field
While some are waiting in line for hours to get their voices heard, others aren't even voting this year. For reasons like being broken-hearted supporters of Gore or thinking their vote won't count, some people don't take the time to vote.
Kids like the hometown favorite in mock vote on Election Day
by KateGardiner
In one Chicago polling place yesterday, all the voters were too young to vote. Fraud? Hardly. A group of 9- and 10-year-olds were giving democracy a test run in a mock election.
Nader campaign pushes forward in the face of resistance and apathy
by Liz Fischer
Eighty volunteers and two staffers drive the Nader campaign in Chicago, working to bring progressive ideas into the national discourse.
Newly naturalized voters say time is of the essence
by Erica L. Green
Guacolda Reyes can’t quite remember the day she came to the U.S. with her family in 1989, but she remembers the day -- Feb. 6, 2008, at about 1 p.m.-- that she became part of the American population ready to cast a historic ballot.
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Guacolda Reyes makes her first vote countHow past elections have affected the economy
by Nicholas Allen
What direction does the stock market take during the first 100 days of a new presidency? Click on the photos to see what happened during the "honeymoon" period for each of the last six presidents.
Hope on the sidewalk of Grant Park
by Hamsa Ramesha
Crowds grow throughout the day at Grant Park. Vendors sellings a variety of political merchandise gear up for the night to come.
Voters give a strong 'no' to Con-Con
by Samantha Abernethy
Illinois voters have decided that the state's 38-year-old constitution will do just fine for at least another 20 years.
Quirky polling places: Would you like a burger with your ballot?
by Kate Shellnutt
Some restaurants on Chicago’s Northwest Side are lending their dining rooms to citizens hungry for democracy, serving as polling places on Election Day.
Hyde Park barbershop has a hand in shaping the future
by Meribah Knight
Hyde Park barber Zariff gives the president-elect a quick trim before throwing an election night party in the local barber shop.
It's the economy, stupid, and it's causing some Chicago Republicans to think again
by Hamsa Ramesha and Melina Kolb
People on the streets of Chicago say the economy will influence their vote, and some Republicans are switching.
This 18-year-old takes election, citizenship beyond the voting booth
by Daniel Lambert
A first-time voter explains what participation in the political process means to her. In a historic election, she takes every opportunity presented to get involved.
Roommates are friends, but not political soulmates
by Jen Thomas
What happens when a lifelong Republican and an Obama lover share an apartment? This is the story of Jeremy Rose, the political director of the Chicago Young Republicans and a former staffer for several Republican campaigns and Erik Severinghaus, a registered Democrat who has been caught up in the Obama craze, roommates with wildly different political views this election season.
Pastor stands alone in support of Republican Party
by Todd Johnson
An African-American pastor says he is proud of what Sen. Barack Obama has accomplished, but he will not vote for him on election day.
While young voters get the attention, she's campaigning at 80
by Samantha Abernethy
Delores Shapiro turned 80 on Thursday, but what she really wants you to know is that she thinks you should vote for Obama.
How would an Obama or McCain presidency affect Chicago?
by Matt Field and Bill Healy
In a little less than a week, voters will pick a president. We asked experts what a Barack Obama or a John McCain presidency would mean for Chicago.
For college students, transportation woes are overshadowed by other concerns
by Annie Martin
Many college students depend on affordable transportation to get to class, shopping and entertainment. But this election season, other priorities have taken precedence over mobility issues.
Peraica, Green candidate say prosecutor's office needs cleaning up; Alvarez skips debate
by TimTaliaferro
Corruption and domestic violence led the topics discussed at a debate Wednesday between candidates for Cook County state's attorney.
Your guide to the state's attorney's office
by Samantha Abernethy
The Cook County State's Attorney's office prosecutes criminal cases. The office in is the second largest of its kind in the United States, employing 850 lawyers and prosecuting 30,000 felony cases annually.As the election approaches, the three candidates have
Chicago's Hispanic neighborhoods are not McCain country
by KateGardiner
The search for a McCain supporter in some of Chicago's predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods is not an easy one. For some, the real debate is still Clinton vs. Obama.
Foreign students can't vote, but they still care
by Alexander Reed
Many American college students have already cast their ballots in next week's historic presidential election. College students are especially vital to presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, as students provide their campaigns with an army of canvassers, phone callers event organizers, but most importantly, voters. But how have international students studying at American colleges approached this historic election, even though they cannot vote like their American classmates? What issues do these international students care about, and who is their favorite candidate?
Father’s legal status motivates son to vote, volunteer
by Todd Johnson
A young Mexican-American works to register new voters in mostly immigrant communities. He registered and voted for the first time last week.
For young volunteers, race in 10th is about more than just politics
by Daniel Lambert
A hotly contested Congressional race in the north suburbs has brought out the best in its young volunteers.
14th District congressional race not appealing to the youth vote
by Jen Thomas
Young voters are expected to turn out in record numbers on Nov. 4, and young voter registration reflects that enthusiasm, but young voters might only pay attention to the national race.
Some Chicago Democrats cross party lines to support McCain
by Jen Thomas
DeMcCrats for McCain, a local group of former Hillary Clinton supporters who are now supporting Sen. John McCain, are nearly 400 strong in the Chicago area.
Quick guide to education issues
by Susan Dosemagen
Susan Dosemagen Education is one of the top issues for young voters. Here's a quick look at the education policies of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama. falseRightfalsefalse FlashVideofalse
Is the Wall Street bailout an issue for young voters?
by Bill Healy
Campaign workers say the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street passed by Congress earlier this month is important to young voters, but voters themselves don't seem to be talking about it.
McCain, Obama address the foreclosure crisis
by Matt Field
Voters say the state of the economy is their No. 1 concern as they head to the polls to elect a new president. How do John McCain and Barack Obama plan to stem the tide of foreclosures.
Minorities' campaign issues are immigration, schools, policing
by Todd Johnson
Young ethnic minorities may turn out in unprecedented numbers to vote in the 2008 election. Here are the presidential candidates' positions on key issues.
Federal prosecutor plans task force to monitor polling place complaints
by Daniel Lambert
If you see someone voting early and often on election day, the U.S. attorney's office wants to know about it. A special task force is being deployed to address any alleged voting irregularities in a town infamous for them.
Illegal immigrant wants voters to consider his plight when they vote
by Jessica Dill
An illegal immigrant encourages voters to vote for immigration reform, since illegal immigrants are not eligible to vote.
Chicagoans getting out to get out the vote -- for Obama, in Indiana
by Chris Gray
Illinois and Chicago are about as blue as you can get this election season. So Barack Obama supporters are exporting their fervor and passion to the traditionally red area to the east, Indiana, which has only gone for a Democrat for president three times since 1900.
Palin costumes and spin-offs are hot on the Halloween scene
by Liz Fischer
Sarah Palin, Joe six-pack, a moose. Palin-inspired costumes are keeping niche retailers busy this Halloween season.
There’s a Chicagoan running for president – but it’s not who you think it is
by Samantha Abernethy
Voters have spent months learning about the Republican and Democratic nominees, but there will be other names on the ballot than Barack Obama and John McCain. Like John Joseph Polachek. Of Chicago.
Forget the polls, focus on the cups
by Daniel Lambert
Coffee drinkers can demonstrate their political preferences as 7-Eleven keeps track. The convenience store has accurately predicted the last two presidential elections.
Rising power of the Web may give minor-party candidates electoral traction
by Samantha Abernethy
Third party and independent candidates have always faced an uphill battle to be heard by voters, but those candidates contend that the role of the Internet as a politics has helped to level the playing field in recent years.
Young voters a priority for local candidates
by Jen Thomas
Young voters are expected to turn out at the polls in record numbers this year. Will local politicians take advantage of the new voters' enthusiasm?
Why the Cook County state's attorney race matters
by Samantha Abernethy
While the presidential election has energized Chicagoans--especially young voters--the local race for Cook County state's attorney has received much less attention, but the outcome could have a much greater impact on residents.
Everything you need to know to vote
by Samantha Abernethy
The voter registration deadline is less than a week away. If you still need to register to vote or request an absentee ballot, you can find the necessary information here. Also, find out how to skip the lines and vote early, and how to find your polling station on Election Day.
Edgewater residents to vote on lakefront expansion
by Jen Thomas
Residents oppose a proposal by Friends of the Parks to extend beaches from Hollywood Avenue to Evanston.
On some blocks, residents asking neighbors to ban liquor sales
by Daniel Lambert
Several precincts on the South Side will attempt to ban liquor sales on election day.
Early voters on track to set record
by Daniel Lambert
Suburban voters are turning out early in record numbers. This early voting influences everything from lines on Election Day to how campaigns organize.
Judge orders state to scrap ballot wording month before vote
by Jen Thomas
A Cook County judge agreed with those who opposed wording of a ballot question on whether to rewrite the state's constitution, saying the wording is biased and misleading. He gave a Friday deadline on coming up with new wording and figuring out how to alert the state's voters about the change.
Experts say Wednesday’s debate is McCain’s last chance to break out
by Daniel Lambert
With weeks to go until Election Day, experts weigh in on the role of debates and what the candidates need to do Wednesday night.
Economists say presidential candidates' tax plans reflect broader philosophies
by Daniel Lambert
Obama focuses on redistribution, McCain on business incentives, panelists say.
How minority groups can get politicians' attention
by Jessica Dill
Ethnic groups smaller in numbers, that are organized with a message, have the same chance in fighting for their issues as larger groups during elections. Relationships with the legislator is key.
