Lakefront liberals

Lakefront liberals are a voting bloc in the city of Chicago that was prominent in the 1970s and 1980s.^[1]

Description[]

Lakefront liberals are described as geographically residing along the lakefront of Chicago in neighborhoods such as Lake View and Lincoln Park.^[1] Some included the South Side lakefront neighborhood Hyde Park as another area of Chicago where they occupied.^[2]

They are predominantly white professionals.^[2] Many of the members of the coalition were born during the baby boom.^[2]

Their beliefs included "good government" and racial equality.^[1]

Electoral impact[]

Lakefront liberals were credited with the two-term election of 44th Ward alderman Dick Simpson in the 1970s.^[1] Another alderman considered a lakefront liberal was William Singer.^[3] Yet another alderman considered one was David Orr, who later became a long-serving Cook County Clerk.^[4]

Lakefront liberals were credited with contributing to the elections of Harold Washington in 1983 and 1987.^[1] During the 1987 Democratic mayoral primary, both Washington and his challenger, former mayor Jane Byrne, actively pursued the lakefront liberal vote.^[5]

Modern status[]

Some analysts believed that Lakefront liberals supported Rahm Emanuel in his 2011 election.^[6]

Some writers believed that Lori Lightfoot was the beneficiary of lakefront liberals' support in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election.^[7] In the initial round the election, Bill Ruthhart of the Chicago Tribune wrote that her, "base proved to be in the liberal lakefront wards on the North Side."^[8] In the initial round, Lightfoot saw particularly strong performances in far north lakefront neighborhoods.^[9] Lightfoot also carried the endorsement of former lakefront liberals-supported alderman Dick Simpson.^[10]

Possible extinction[]

Lakefront liberals are considered by some political writers to be largely extinct.^[1][2] Edward McClell wrote this in a late-2019 Chicago magazine article.^[1] McClell argued that Lakefront neighborhoods on the North Side of Chicago have become among of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago, and have also become some of the most conservative-leaning neighborhoods.^[1] North side lakefront communities were among the most supportive areas for Mayor Rahm Emanuel (who was regarded as an "establishment" politician) in his elections.^[1] McClell wrote that it is theorized that much of the former lakefront liberals voting base left the geographic area that the coalition once occupied, after being priced-out, moving to neighborhoods such as Wicker Park, Logan Square, and Avondale, making up part of what is now known as the "Milwaukee Avenue Progressives".^[1]

References[]