Chicago hip-hop artist Chance the Rapper on Thursday endorsed mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle.
The rapper, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, is the son of Ken Bennett, the chairman of Preckwinkle’s campaign. But the younger Bennett backed candidate Amara Enyia in the crowded mayoral election in February that led to a runoff between Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot.
During a news conference at City Hall on Thursday, the rapper said he decided to support Preckwinkle in the April 2 runoff election after he spent time meeting with activists and hearing their concerns about the city.
“The resounding voice has been that they don’t necessarily feel comfortable or safe going into a city where Lori Lightfoot sits on the fifth floor,” he said. “Her past record as a prosecutor has not been in the best interest of young black people in Chicago.”
Lightfoot was a federal prosecutor for six years.
“I want everybody to know the truth,” Bennett added. “And the truth is that the most qualified person in terms of somebody that’s gonna look out for all the people in Chicago, in terms of the person who’s going to account for, you know, the police, for victims of gun crime, victims of economic crime, is Toni Preckwinkle.”
Preckwinkle, the current Cook County Board president, released a statement saying, “I am proud to have Chance’s endorsement, a musician who has used his voice to inspire other young people to get involved in the political process and in their communities.”
