Ald. Sophia King (4), one of several progressive challengers in this year’s mayor’s race, has said tackling violence and creating a better relationship between the City Council and mayor are two top priorities should she win the crowded election.

King was appointed to her aldermanic seat in 2016 by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel but has maintained her position with a wide margin in elections in 2017 and 2019. Prior to serving on the council, King worked in education as a chemistry teacher at Chicago’s Latin School and an administrator at Northwestern University and Chicago Public Schools. She also has been involved in several philanthropic organizations.

She has chaired the City Council Progressive Reform Caucus since 2020. King has used her prominent City Council role to push for the inclusion of a non-police emergency response program in Lightfoot’s 2021 “pandemic” budget. She was also a leading proponent of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) civilian police oversight ordinance, which created the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. King was also one of five Black alderwomen to introduce the proposed “Anjanette Young Ordinance” to reform the police department’s home raid protocols. As an alderman, King has presided over the “Bronzeville Lakefront” mega-development plan, which aims to build a new mixed-use campus on the former Michael Reese Hospital site, and she has touted it as an example of how community-driven developments can be more popular.

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