Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged in an interview that a runoff is likely in the upcoming municipal election because there are nine people on the ballot. However, the first-term mayor is facing credible challenges from at least three opponents, including Paul Vallas, Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, and Brandon Johnson. Recent polls have shown Lightfoot in a statistical dead heat with Vallas and Garcia, who have high name identification. Johnson has also been gaining support from the politically powerful Chicago Teachers Union, which has long been at odds with Lightfoot. Lightfoot has clashed with the Chicago Teachers Union, went on strike under her watch, and engaged in testy exchanges with both Gov. J.B. Pritzker and her fellow aldermen. The issue of crime dominates the Chicago mayor's race and poses a significant challenge to Lightfoot's re-election chances. Chicago is one of the most dangerous big cities in America, even though violence eased somewhat in 2022 compared with the previous year.