Voters Most Concerned About Crime And Public Safety In Chicago Mayoral Race: POLL

Likely Chicago voters ranked crime and public safety their foremost issue in the upcoming mayoral election, with most expressing worries for their own safety, according to a Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ, Telemundo Chicago and NBC5-commissioned poll.

Roughly 47% of 625 likely election voters cited crime and public safety as the most important issue in determining their vote, and 50% argued crime reduction should have a higher priority than criminal justice system reform in Chicago while 37% said the opposite, the Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 survey indicated. Nearly 35% and 28% respectively claimed they felt “not too safe” and “not safe” from gun violence and crime in the city. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson Clobbers Chicago Mayor Over Crime Hurting The ‘Poorest People’)

Chicago’s major criminal complaints spiked by about 41% overall in 2022 compared to the previous year, despite a 14% decline in murders, Chicago Police Department data shows. Poll respondents also criticized Chicago authorities meant to address criminal activity, with approximately 65% reporting law enforcement-community relations are generally negative and 67% voicing disapproval with how the criminal justice system there handles people arrested for violent crimes like carjacking and armed robbery, according to the Sun-Times.

Criminal justice reform was cited as the foremost issue by approximately 31% of black voters, while 30% pointed to crime and public safety as their primary concern, the outlet reported. Nearly 85% of black survey participants characterized police relations as generally negative, compared to 63% of Hispanic participants and 49% of white participants.

Incumbent Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot received 17% support in the poll, falling in behind poll leader U.S Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia with 20% and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas at 18%, according to the Sun-Times. The poll had a 4% margin of error.