On April 29, 1983, Harold Washington was inaugurated as the 51st Mayor of Chicago, becoming the first African American to hold the city’s highest office. In doing so, he unseated the incumbent Jane Byrne, who was the first woman to hold the office.
Washington announces his mayoral candidacy (1982-11-10) by James (Jim) Klepitsch for Chicago Sun-TimesChicago History Museum
Washington’s road to the election wasn’t a smooth one. The congressman had an unsuccessful run for the mayor's office in 1977.
His second attempt for mayor came at the behest of concerned citizens and organizers, who were dissatisfied with the status quo under Mayor Jane Byrne.
Harold Washington shaking hands of supporters (February 28, 1983) by Richard GordonChicago History Museum
Always an advocate for his constituents, Washington agreed to mount a campaign if two herculean tasks could be achieved by organizers in the city—find funders and find voters.
Undeterred by these conditions, Washington’s supporters reported back with success on both fronts, securing campaign funds and more than 50,000 signatures of enthusiastic voters. True to his word, the race was on.
Harold Washington outside with campaign supporters (February 28, 1983) by Richard GordonChicago History Museum
Washington was Chicago through and through. Born at Cook County Hospital on the city’s West Side, he attended Roosevelt College (now Roosevelt University) and received his law degree from Northwestern University.
Washington was also a veteran, having served in a segregated unit for the US Army Air Corps in the 1940s. Shortly after completing his law degree, Washington found himself in Chicago politics.
He worked for Alderman Ralph Metcalfe in the city’s 3rd Ward and served as an organizer for the Democratic Party. These local roots would propel Washington to a successful career in state and national politics.
Washington served the people of Illinois first as a congressman in the Illinois House of Representatives (1965–76) and then moving to the Illinois Senate (1976–80). Both periods in office were marred with road bumps and Chicago-style politics, often at the hands of a disingenuous mayor, Richard J. Daley, whose resolutions were often at odds with Washington’s agenda. Washington's first bid for the mayoral office came in the 1977 election, held following the sudden death of Mayor Daley from a heart attack. Washington would ultimately fall to the incumbent Michael A. Bilandic in a crowded field of mayoral candidates.
Close up of Washington announcing his candidacy (11-10-1982) by James (Jim) Klepitsch for Chicago Sun-TimesChicago History Museum
Following his term in the state senate, Washington launched a successful bid for the US House of Representatives, where he focused on strengthening voting rights legislation, advocating against the disenfranchisement faced by Black voters.
Harold Washington speaks at campaign stop (1983-04-09) by Pete Souza for Chicago Sun-TimesChicago History Museum
In the 1983 Democratic primary for the Chicago mayoral election, Washington found himself one of three potential Democratic nominees to the ticket. Running against him were incumbent Mayor Jane Byrne, and then State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley (son of the former mayor).
In an embattled campaign season, Byrne and Daley would ultimately come to split the white vote in Chicago, clearing the way for Washington’s nomination thanks to his popularity amongst Black Chicagoans.
Washington compared his winning the primary to taking down the dinosaur of Democratic machine politics that were in force in the city’s government for decades.
His coalition building efforts also saw him gain large swaths of support from the city’s Latino/a/x communities, and more left-leaning whites.
Mayoral candidates Harold Washington and Bernard Epton (March 21, 1983) by Phil Velasquez for Chicago Sun-TimesChicago History Museum
After beating both Byrne and Daley, Washington had to face off in the general election against the Republican Bernard Epton, who leaned heavily into racial politics.
Epton played to the anxieties of white voters, both liberal and conservative, over the possibility of electing a Black mayor. His campaign slogan was the infamous, “Epton, before it’s too late.”
Harold Washington supporters (1983-04-09) by Pete Souza for Chicago Sun-TimesChicago History Museum
In an effort to keep Washington out of office, a number of Chicago Democrats crossed party lines, voicing their support for Epton’s candidacy, including party officials and local aldermen like Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Ed Vrdolyak.
Epton’s stock was so high that a number of outlets were calling the mayoral race a potential tossup, a rare position for a city that had not elected a Republican mayor since 1927.
Muhammed Ali campaigning for Harold Washington (04-01-1983) by Richard GordonChicago History Museum
Washington ran on a reform ticket, pledging to rid the city of the infamous political patronage system and promising to open up local jobs to the city’s disenfranchised communities.
Harold Washington voting (April 12, 1983) by Richard GordonChicago History Museum
Ultimately, in an election that saw enormous voter turnout, in which more than 1.2 million ballots were cast, Washington’s message resonated enough to secure him the victory. He defeated Epton at the polls, with just over 51% of the vote going in his favor.
Harold Washington speaking to the Jewish Support Committee (1983-04-20) by Richard GordonChicago History Museum
Again, Washington’s popularity with diverse racial groups and his growing appeal to so-called lakefront liberals carried him into office.
Mayor Harold Washington at the Puerto Rican Peoples' Day parade (June 16, 1985) by Jarvinen for Chicago Sun-TimesChicago History Museum
Because he was still an elected member of the House of Representatives, Washington resigned his post at the Illinois State Capitol after the election.
Washington was sworn in as Mayor of Chicago on April 29, 1983, marking an enormous victory and shift in the political status quo of one of the country’s largest cities.
Special thanks to the following individuals who made this Google Arts & Culture story possible:
Charles E. Bethea
Jojo Galvan
Colleen Layton
Timothy Paton Jr.
Heidi Samuelson
Esther D. Wang
