1983 Mayoral Election, Dot density maps

September 15, 2024

Here is a dot-density map of voters for the 1983 mayoral election between Harold Washington and Bernard Epton. Washington received 660,265 votes to Epton’s 613,708. Each dot represent 10 voters.

The data comes from LaDale Winling’s Chicago Elections Project. Professor Winling has collected precinct level election results for historical elections and digitized the electoral precinct maps.

One thing that these maps make clear is that while Harold Washington did have support along the north side lake front, so called “Lakefront Liberals,” those areas went heavier for Epton. This is point that Gary Rivlin discusses in depth in his great book on Harold Washington, Fire on the Prairie.