Lori Lightfoot is an American Democratic politician and lawyer serving as 56th and current Mayor of Chicago.

Lightfoot is the youngest of four children born to Elijah and Ann Lightfoot. Her parents were born in the late 1920s and grew up in the segregated south. Lightfoot’s father became gravely ill and lost most of his hearing during her childhood, spending almost a year in a coma. Witnessing her father’s struggles with his disability profoundly shaped Lori’s views on social justice and equity.

After high school, Lightfoot attended the University of Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1984, where she graduated with honors. After college, Lori worked as a legislative aide for two years in Washington, D.C.

Lightfoot received a full scholarship to attend the University of Chicago Law School. While there, she was elected the student body president. She graduated with her Juris Doctor degree in 1989.

Before becoming mayor, Lightfoot worked in private legal practice as a partner at Mayer Brown. She has also held various government positions in the City of Chicago. Most notably, she served as president of the Chicago Police Board and chair of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force.

On May 10, 2018, Lightfoot announced her candidacy for Mayor of Chicago, her first-ever run for office. She won the election on April 2, 2019, after a run-off vote. She won more than 73 percent of the overall vote in the runoff, winning in all 50 wards of the city.

She is the first LGBTQ mayor and first black female mayor of Chicago. She was the first openly lesbian candidate in the history of Chicago mayoral elections.

Lightfoot is the co-chairman of Chicago Ideas, a non-profit organization designed to make visionary ideas accessible to a wide audience.

Lori and her spouse, Amy Eshleman, live in Chicago with their daughter.

Politicians, Mayors, Political, Government & Political Professionals, LGBTQ, Chicago, IL, African-American Women, Democratic Party,