The most competitive Chicago mayoral race in decades

Plus, mass protests against changes to Mexico's electoral system.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Lori Lightfoot faces a tough reelection bid for Chicago mayor; Mexicans mobilize against cuts to election budgets.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. TOP NEWS The unexpectedly close race for Chicago mayor  Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere  Pool/Getty Images On Tuesday, Chicago voters will choose from nine candidates in a mayoral race dominated by voter concerns about crime. [Politico / Shia Kapo] Four years ago, incumbent Lori Lightfoot became the first Black woman and openly gay person to serve as mayor of the city. However, her support has fallen amid rising homicides and public disputes with the police and teachers unions. [Associated Press / Sara Burnett] Her top rivals, who are also Democrats, include former Chicago Public Schools executive Paul Vallas, US Rep. Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. [The Hill / Caroline Vakil] Race — and the city's segregation — is also playing an important role in the contest, as each candidate works to appeal to the needs (and fears) of specific racial groups and ethnic enclaves. For instance, Vallas, who is white, is calling for more police; Johnson who is Black, is urging for progressive reforms. [NPR / Mariah Woelfel] Garcia, if he wins, would become the city's first Hispanic major. [New York Times / Mitch Smith] If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote, as is expected, the top two will head to an April 4 runoff election. [Chicago Tribune] Mexicans mobilize against election changes On Sunday, more than 100,000 demonstrators gathered in dozens of cities across Mexico to protest President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's electoral reforms. [NYT / Natalie Kitroeff] Last week, Mexican lawmakers approved changes that would cut the budget and staff of the agency responsible for overseeing the country's elections. It would also reduce penalties for politicians who break campaign finance rules. [Associated Press] AMLO claims the reforms will save taxpayers $150 million per year; critics, however, say the proposals would undermine democracy. [BBC] Mexico's Supreme Court could hear a challenge to the election law in the coming months in what would be the opponents' last hope for preventing the reforms. [Vox / Christian Paz] MISCELLANEOUS The Supreme Court will review a decision declaring the US agency responsible for helping fight financial fraud unconstitutional. [Vox / Ian Millhiser] The UK and the EU on Monday reached an agreement to resolve post-Brexit trade disputes in Northern Ireland. [CNBC / Karen Gilchrist and Elliot Smith] Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill Monday giving the state control of Disney's special district after executives criticized his policies. [CNN / Steve Contorno and Kit Maher] Belarus opposition figures claim they used drones to destroy a Russian military aircraft near the Belarusian capital, Minsk. [Reuters] Support our work   Reader gifts help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work with a gift today.  Give VERBATIM "Chicago is the epicenter of racial politics. Any political contest in Chicago is driven by turnout, especially turnout among racial demographics." [Collin Corbett, a center-right political strategist, on Chicago's mayoral race / Politico] LISTEN TO THIS For Black horror fans, fact is scarier than fiction Guest host Alissa Wilkinson talks with Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman about her new book, The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar. They discuss the tropes in Black horror, and how inequity in Hollywood has shaped the nation's attitude toward Black people.   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox Nigeria's elections will determine the course of its democracy Tax pro-approved tips to make filing (a little) easier Consumers are reaching a breaking point This is the most populist Oscars in a long time Here's what arming Ukraine could look like in the future This email was sent to milburnkennedy@hotmail.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.