The United States city of Chicago has made history by electing an African-American woman as its mayor for the first time. Lori Lightfoot is a former federal prosecutor who has not held political office before.
She fought off competition from 13 other candidates and dominated the final run-off election with more than 74 percent when the vote was called.
According to BBC Ms Lightfoot is also the city’s first gay mayor and celebrated on-stage with her wife and daughter.
“Out there tonight a lot of little girls and boys are watching. They’re watching us. And they’re seeing the beginning of something, well, a little bit different,” she told a crowd celebrating her victory on Wednesday night.
The 56-year-old was viewed as an outsider to the race and campaigned on a platform to end political corruption and help lower-income families.
Gun crime and policing were also high on the agenda in a city plagued by high levels of gang violence and murder.
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Ms Lightfoot previously led the city’s police accountability task force. The body was set up after the death of a 17-year-old named Laquan McDonald at the hands of a police officer in 2014 and subsequent alleged cover-up.
She also headed the Chicago Police Board, a civilian oversight body that disciplines police officers. Her final victory came on Wednesday in a run-off vote against Toni Preckwinkle another African-American woman.
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