WEST LOOP — Former aldermanic candidate and full-time rapper Rhymefest will host an election party Tuesday night on Randolph.
Rhymefest will host Aldertrack's Election Night party at Kaiser Tiger, 1415 W. Randolph St. The fun will start when the polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and continue until midnight.
Aldertrack co-founder Mike Fourcher said the West Loop party will be in walking distance to incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel's party and a party for Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who is challenging the mayor.
"We expect to be a spot where people interested in Chicago politics can meet up without needing to commit to one side or the other," Fourcher said.
Emanuel and Garcia face three others on the ballot Tuesday: Ald. Bob Fioretti, businessman Willie Wilson and perennial candidate William "Dock" Walls.
"We're very excited," Fourcher said. "Of course we’ll have TVs to watch the returns, a DJ and a great view from the bar."
Fourcher and co-founder Jimm Dispensa relaunched Aldertrack this year to track Chicago elections. The team mines readily available data — including the objections filed with the Board of Election Commissioners over candidate petitions and campaign funding reported to the state — and organizes it into a format that is easy to understand, Dispensa said.
In addition to the website, Aldertrack offers a free daily newsletter, tracking the biggest election headlines, and a continuously-updated racing form.
In 2011, Che "Rhymefest" Smith came in second in the municipal general election, forcing a runoff, only to be ultimately defeated by incumbent Ald. Willie Chochran, who held onto the seat with 55 percent of the vote.
Outside of the political arena, Chicago-based Grammy winner Rhymefest co-wrote Kanye West's hit "Jesus Walks," and is known for infusing his own raps with political and sociological commentary.
The event is also sponsored by strategic PR firm Kurth Lampe, communications firm The Sexton Group, Rivet Radio, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild and the Association of Chicago Realtors.
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