NEAR WEST SIDE — Longtime Ald. Danny Solis leads four challengers with 52 percent of the vote — above what he needs to avoid a runoff — with 81 percent of the 25th Ward's precincts reporting.
Candidate Byron Sigcho is in second, topping the three other challengers, with 17 percent of the vote.
Burnett, Beukinga
Longtime Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. pulled to an early lead in Tuesday night's race.
Burnett lead challenger Gabe Beukinga 75 percent to 25 percent with nearly two-thirds of the 27th Ward's precincts reporting.
Voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide five contested aldermanic races on the city's Near West Side.
If no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote on Feb. 24, the top two vote-getters will square off in a runoff on April 7.
25th Ward
Four candidates seek to oust longtime Ald. Danny Solis on Tuesday.
The veteran is squaring off against CPS teacher Ed Hershey; activist Jorge Mujica; financial adviser Roberto "Beto" Montano; and Byron Sigcho, leader instructor at UIC's Center for Literacy.
While Solis will likely hold on to his 25th Ward seat, with so many opponents he could easily face a runoff in the race, according to a recent poll.
Signs show Mayor Rahm Emanuel may be worried about his ally, too. Chicago Forward, widely considered an Emanuel campaign war chest, has spent more than $29,000 backing Solis in the race.
In 2011, the 25th Ward race went to a runoff, but Solis ultimately defeated challenger Cuahutemoc Morfin with 54 percent of the vote.
The 25th Ward includes parts of Pilsen, Chinatown, the West Loop, Little Italy and Heart of Chicago.
27th Ward
Will another powerful city leader — Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. — land a sixth term?
Not if his sole challenger Gabe Beukinga has his way. The 31-year-old first-time candidate waged a monthslong battle to make it on the ballot, after a marathon objection case against him landed in court.
It's been an interesting race, for sure.
In a series of "drunken" e-mails sent in November, Beukinga threatened to "crush" an influential developer and accused the firm of engaging in "pay-to-play politics" with Burnett.
Beukinga apologized, but contends that he's not as bad as Burnett, who was convicted of bank robbery at age 17 and served two years in jail.
The diverse 27th Ward includes parts of the West Loop, Greektown, Garfield Park, the Near North Side, Old Town, West Humboldt Park, West Town, the Medical District and Goose Island neighborhoods.
28th Ward
Ald. Jason Ervin gets lucky — some would say very lucky — and is running unopposed on the ballot Tuesday.
That's after all seven of his potential opponents were bounced from the 28th Ward ballot after their nominating petitions were challenged by a political ally of Ervin.
The objection cases cleared the way for Ervin's second full term in the West Side ward.
In a contest against William Siegmund, who was kicked off the ballot this time, Ervin won the 2011 race with nearly 85 percent of the vote.
The 28th Ward includes parts of a diverse collection of West Side neighborhoods: Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Little Italy, Little Village, Pilsen, Tri-Taylor, University Village and the West Loop
24th Ward
A crowd of candidates has lined up to succeed Ald. Michael Chandler, after the West Side leader announced he would step down last year.
The 10 candidates include: Michael Scott Jr., the son of Michael Scott, the head of the Chicago Board of Education under Mayor Richard Daley who's controversial 2009 death was ruled a suicide; former political aide LaDarius Curtis, who worked on campaigns to elect President Barack Obama; and former Chicago Bull Wallace "Mickey" Johnson.
Other candidates include political consultant Frank Bass; business owner Vetress Boyce; post office employee Sherita Ann Harris; non-profit founder Regina Lewis; Republican committeeman Larry G. Nelson; insurance agent Darren Tillis; police officer and pastor Roger L. Washington.
The 24th Ward includes parts of North Lawndale, West Garfield Park and South Austin.
11th Ward
Three candidates are running to replace Ald. James Balcer (11th), who is retiring.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Patrick Daley Thompson, nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley; law student John Kozlar; and community activist Maureen Sullivan are all vying for Balcer's City Council seat.
A poll earlier this month showed Thompson had the lead in the race at 37.3 percent, but nearly 30 percent of poll respondents were undecided.
The 11th Ward includes Bridgeport, Canaryville, East Pilsen and University Village.
12th Ward
Ald. George Cardenas, an ardent ally of Emanuel, is running unopposed.
The 12th Ward includes parts of Little Village, McKinley Park, Brighton Park, Douglas Park and Back of the Yards.
22nd Ward
Four candidates, including longtime incumbent Ald. Ricardo Munoz, aim to represent the 22nd Ward for the next four years.
The three challengers are: Neftalie Gonzalez, Robert Martinez and Raul Montes Jr.
The 22nd Ward includes parts of Little Village and Lawndale.
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