Election Day: 18 aldermanic races likely to go to run-off elections

CHICAGO (WLS) -- It is likely that 18 of this year's alderman races will go to run-off elections, as voters cast their ballots in the first aldermanic election since the 2012 ward remapping.

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In the city's 11th Ward, Patrick Daley Thompson, a nephew of former Mayor Richard Daley, has gotten 47 percent of the vote against challengers John Kozlar and Maureen Sullivan. Thompson came about 140 votes short of avoiding a run-off. He says the Daley name may have both helped and hurt him, as well as an allegiance with current Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

In the 35th Ward in the city's Northwest Side, which covers Logan Square, Avondale and Irving Park, longtime Ald. Rey colon is losing to 26-year-old challenger Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. Colon has been alderman for 12 years, and Ramirez-Rosa would be the first openly gay Latino alderman in Chicago history.

The 7th Ward race in the Southeast Side had eight candidates running. This was previously Sandi Jackson's seat. It will be a run-off between incumbent Ald. Natashia Holmes and Gregory Mitchell, an IT manager at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Also on the South Side, in the 16th Ward, Toni Folkes - who is currently the 15th Ward alderman but now in the 16th after remapping - leads Stephanie Coleman. Coleman is the daughter of former Ald. Shirley Coleman. That race will take place in April. This is also the Englewood ward where the current alderman, JoAnn Thompson, passed away earlier this month. She received 55 votes.

In the city's North Side 43rd Ward in Lincoln Park-Old Town, Ald. Michelle Smith is headed for a run-off, likely against Caroline Vickrey, a former assistant attorney general for the state.

There will likely be a total of 18 run-off elections for aldermen in April.

Voters gave a resounding "yes" for the referendum on an elected school board in Chicago, but this is a non-binding referendum and not citywide - only 37 wards voted on this.

Mayor Emanuel is not in favor of it, while challenger Garcia supports it; it is likely to be a significant issue in the run-off.