Aldermanic races shifting as more ballots come in
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Election night results could change as thousands of mail-in votes flow in.
Why it matters: In many wards, the new votes will determine whether aldermanic candidates win outright or face runoffs.
Context: The Chicago Board of Elections predicted this year's surge of mail-in voters would leave many races undecided for days. Votes are valid as long as they were postmarked by Tuesday.
- There are over 78,000 mail-in ballots still out and thousands more that haven't been counted.
- Candidates must receive more than 50% of the vote to avoid an April 4 runoff.
45th Ward: Incumbent Jim Gardiner was heading for a runoff on election night. But mail-in votes have pushed him to 49.66%, just short of hitting the threshold to avoid a runoff.
- 1,895 ballots have yet to be returned, and the chances of Gardiner's winning outright are strong.
1st Ward: Incumbent Ald. Daniel La Spata won 25 of 26 precincts in the Wicker Park/Palmer Square ward. He hovers around 49.1% of the vote.
- Yes, but: There are still 3,533 outstanding votes that could come in, so he probably will pass 50% in the coming days.
4th Ward: State Rep. Lamont Robinson is the clear front-runner in the Bronzeville ward, sitting at 46% of the vote.
- 1,598 mail-in ballots haven't been returned.
29th Ward: Incumbent Chris Taliaferro looked like a lock on election night against challenger CB Johnson in the ward representing parts of Austin, Mont Clare and Belmont Cragin on the West Side.
- But Taliaferro is just over 50%, which could change with 976 ballots unreturned.
33rd Ward: Incumbent Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez declared victory against challenger Sami Martinez on Wednesday when her numbers rose to 53%.
- Yes, but: There are still 1,826 uncounted votes in the Albany Park ward.
36th ward: Incumbent Gilbert Villegas is pushing closer to 50%.
- With only 1,471 ballots unaccounted for, he needs a strong showing to avoid a runoff.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that the 1st Ward includes Palmer Square (not Armour Square).