Chicago Democracy Project

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Find election results, demographics, and more.

What’s the matter with Illinois? The Fair Tax Fails

What’s the matter with Illinois? The Fair Tax Fails

In November 2020, the Presidential election took most of the headline space in Illinois and elsewhere. Down the ballot, however, important choices were made in many states and cities that will both impact Americans’ lives. Some of these results can also help us learn about voters’ priorities and ideological decision-making. In Illinois, the recent statewide ballot measure to amend the Illinois constitution is a theoretical headscratcher: “Why don’t even blue states tax the rich?”

What’s the matter with Illinois? The Fair Tax Fails

What’s the matter with Illinois? The Fair Tax Fails

In November 2020, the Presidential election took most of the headline space in Illinois and elsewhere. Down the ballot, however, important choices were made in many states and cities that will both impact Americans’ lives. Some of these results can also help us learn about voters’ priorities and ideological decision-making. In Illinois, the recent statewide ballot measure to amend the Illinois constitution is a theoretical headscratcher: “Why don’t even blue states tax the rich?”

A View from Downballot: Fractures in Cook County’s Democratic Coalition

A View from Downballot: Fractures in Cook County’s Democratic Coalition

Democratic dominance in big cities masks the ideological complexity of the party’s metropolitan coalition. Cook County voters had the opportunity to express their preferences on criminal justice reform through their vote for State’s Attorney, where incumbent Kim Foxx ran on a reform platform. The vote was split along racial lines.

Decision Day in Illinois: The Graduated Tax Ballot Measure

Decision Day in Illinois: The Graduated Tax Ballot Measure

This November, voters will cast ballots for dozens of local, state, and federal offices. Illinois voters will also decide on a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution and permit state legislators to tax income under a graduated tax system, from its...

Neighborhood Disparities in Chicago Covid Relief

Neighborhood Disparities in Chicago Covid Relief

Last week, after dogged pressure from watchdogs and transparency advocates, the Department of Treasury released some data on the recipients of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to help weather the Covid storm. The program was designed to...

The Racial Divide in Chicagoland’s Experiences of Policing

The Racial Divide in Chicagoland’s Experiences of Policing

Co-authored with Matthew Nelsen and Tom Ogorzalek | As protests against racism and police brutality continue across the United States, issues of policing have come to dominate the local political agenda across the country, including in Chicago. Activists have proposed defunding the police, removing police officers from schools, civilian accountability of police, and numerous other policies. In light of ongoing public discussion on these proposals, this blog post shares findings from recent surveys that highlight stark differences in experiences and views of policing across racial groups in Chicagoland. Underscoring the voices of activists and protestors, we find that Black residents disproportionately experience negative encounters with police, sharply disapprove of their performance, and express more concern about crime.

Breaking Down Kim Foxx’s Win in the 2020 Primary

Breaking Down Kim Foxx’s Win in the 2020 Primary

Co-authored with Tom Ogorzalek
Progressive prosecutor Kim Foxx won the 2020 primary for Cook County State’s Attorney comfortably, though not overwhelmingly. Close analysis shows that Foxx retained strong support in African American neighborhoods, but saw a decline in support in many white neighborhoods.

Who had the opinion edge? CTU v CPS

Who had the opinion edge? CTU v CPS

Most Chicagoans didn’t have strong leanings going into the CTU strike. African Americans were more inclined to support the union, while homeowners leaned toward CPS.

Who “Likes” the Teacher Strike?

Who “Likes” the Teacher Strike?

Over the weekend, Chance took the CTU strike national. How have local officials used social media to express their views on the issue? We take a quick look at the politics of the strike by examining what members of the City Council have said about it on Twitter and how Chicagoans feel about the CTU and school board.

Governing American cities means reaching beyond local boundaries

Governing American cities means reaching beyond local boundaries

The new localist perspective advocating for greater local autonomy is promising–this is indeed the best hope for a responsible and responsive governance right now, and the cities where our challenges will be felt most acutely have no choice but to lead the way. But they remain profoundly vulnerable in the federal system.

Rent Control and Neighborhood Change in 3 Maps

Rent Control and Neighborhood Change in 3 Maps

When Chicagoans go to the ballot box next week, some of us will have an extra line on the ballot asking: “Should the state repeal the ban on rent control?” The measure is advanced by the grassroots Lift the Ban coalition. Let’s take a look at the features of this referendum.