Big Money Elects "Mayor 1%"

Although Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia eventually succumbed to the bludgeoning effects of Rahm Emanuel's big money donors, he scared the living daylights out of Chicago's incumbent mayor in Tuesday's runoff race.

Despite the final outcome, Garcia showed in the race the power working people, people of color and progressives can exert when they fight for their principles. Progressives were unable to add Chicago to a growing list of gains that includes mayors in New York City, Jersey City and Newark. But, Garcia's showing points to a larger battle brewing in the country of ordinary folks challenging big money politics not just against Republicans but within the Democratic Party.

Garcia's run was simply amazing. He took on Chicago's much vaunted political machine, coming from behind the pack in a four-way race on Feb. 7 to force this week's run-off. He never had much money, and was badly outspent, but he had the message that spoke to the hopes and aspirations of the city's working class, people of color and progressives, who had long felt ignored and disrespected by Emanuel. It's not for nothing that Emmanuel earned the nickname "Mayor 1%." His policies favor the rich at the expense of Chicago's working class.

CWA and our progressive allies are fighting the flood of big money that is destroying our democratic process and this year's Chicago Mayor's race was a big example of what is wrong. The corrupting power of big money in politics rears its ugly head even in a race between Democrats. The Chicago Tribune reported that Emanuel raised more than $30 million for this campaign, including more than $18 million from an "elite group of donors, many of whom received some City Hall benefit." That is not counting a well-funded SuperPAC that blanketed Chicago airwaves with negative advertising during the campaign attacking Garcia and misrepresenting his positions on issues. One individual wrote Emanuel a check for $500,000. This is not what democracy looks like.

Many unions, including CWA, and working people and political leaders from communities of color and progressive organizations supported Garcia but, in the end, labor was split as some unions backed Emanuel and others opted to stay on the sidelines.