Racial evolution of the Chicago City Council

Axios

22-05-2025

Editors note: This story is part of our ongoing series about equity in a city that has recently reached a nearly equal balance of one-third Black, white and Latino residents. Today we examine racial representation on the Chicago City Council.
After decades of so-called "plantation wards" occupied by non-white residents but led by white alders, today's Chicago City Council nearly matches the racial makeup of the city's population, thanks to a transformational 2023 election.
Why it matters: Equitable racial representation in government can help drive equitable policies and outcomes.
But diversity efforts are facing federal pushback, including an investigation launched this week into Mayor Brandon Johnson for allegedly favoring Black hires on his staff.
The big picture: For decades, white alders held disproportionate power on the council, but today they hold 28% of council seats, lagging behind their 32% of the 2024 population.
Black representation has flipped from 30% of council seats in the 1980s (when Black residents were 40% of the city) to 40% today, while the Black population is 28% of the city.
"Well, finally," says Black freshman Ald. William Hall (6th).
"How many years did it take to get here and to get the first Black female finance [committee] chair and general counsel? I think that what we're doing is catching up. It's inspirational when you see people who look like you leading and serving and working."
Latino representation grew from a single alder in 1983 to 14 today, or 28% of the council, nearly matching the city's 29% Latino population.
Many Latino alders, including Latino Caucus chair Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), represent racially mixed wards, creating a need to balance a variety of priorities.
"I think [ethnic] representation is very important," Vasquez tells Axios. "But what's more important is that we're in touch with the constituents in our communities and we really listen."
Asian representation hit its highest point (4%) in 2023 after Nicole Lee (11th) and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) won seats representing Chinatown and Edgewater/Uptown. Still, it remains behind the city's 7% Asian population.
"I just think it's important to bring our perspectives to the table," Filipino American Manaa-Hoppenworth tells Axios. "We bring the perspective of immigrants seeking better lives, and we know that to build strong communities, you need to bring empathy and collaboration, so I'm proud to be here in the city council doing that."
Between the lines: Some of the biggest power struggles on the council have shifted from Black and white issues to skirmishes between the Black and Latino caucuses.
Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) called the intense 2022 ward remap battle for representation"probably the most racialized thing I've ever been a part of."
Yes, but: Some alders say race is playing a shrinking role in voter choice as Black alders lead at least four plurality white wards.
"I think people are now voting based on the quality of the service that you give them, not your ethnicity," Black Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), who represents the plurality white 27th Ward, tells Axios.
"Maybe we're starting to get into Dr. Martin Luther King's dream when people are judged not based on their race."
Reality check: Council power hasn't yet translated to economic power. A new Urban League analysis suggests the median net worth of a Black Chicago family is $0 compared to $210,000 for white families.
This is one of the reasons Hadden believes the Black caucus, for all its diverse views, remains important.
"A lot of our efforts are really based on equity and parity, whether it's in contracting or the distribution of grants or economic development," she said. "And so that's still very important to me as a black Chicagoan, and it's important to my community."
What's next: Former council member Dick Simpson says he's not surprised to see council representation lag behind population changes as alders use "gerrymandering to protect political bases."