...
By James Bickerton
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Tiffany Henyard, dubbed "America's worst mayor," has decisively lost the Democratic Party primary to run again for the role in Dolton, Illinois.
Henyard had been involved in a series of scandals, which led to an investigation by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concluding she mismanaged Dolton's finances with "excessive" spending.
Newsweek contacted Henyard for comment on Wednesday via email.
Read More on U.S.
Why It Matters
Henyard's ousting comes as a number of prominent Democratic mayors are under pressure across America. New York Mayor Eric Adams was facing a criminal corruption case until it was suspended in February by President Trump's Justice Department, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was criticized over her handling of the wildfires which struck the city in January.
What To Know
Henyard was handsomely defeated in Tuesday's primary election, receiving just 12 percent of the vote, against 88 percent for her challenger, trustee Jason House, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. The pair shared a ticket in 2021 but had since become fierce rivals.
In February, 2021, Henyard won 82 percent of the vote and was elected as mayor of Dolton, a village south of Chicago with a population of 21,426.
According to NewsNation, her scandalous spending included $67,000 on travel over a four-month period, $85,000 toward hosting a party and $43,000 splashed out on Amazon in just one day.
In April, 2024, former Chicago Mayor Lightfoot, an attorney, was hired to investigate Henyard's spending. In August she concluded that Henyard had made questionable purchases and failed to provide the expected financial accountability. According to Lightfoot, under Henyard's leadership, Dolton went from having a $5.6 million surplus in 2022 to a deficit of $3.6 million just two years later.
House ran with the slogan "Clean House 2025," pledging to restore trust in the local government.
...
According to CBS News when confronted over Lightfoot's investigation earlier this month Henyard said "the real receipts are available" and claimed "the trustees have been stealing money," without providing evidence.
Henyard is also facing a number of lawsuits over alleged corruption and in January was involved in a brawl at a board meeting.
What People Are Saying
Addressing supporters following his victory, House said: "We faced four years of intimidation, four years of failure, and tonight is the new day for the village of Dolton. Today marks the end to a dark time for Dolton. If you want to pass the buck, pass that seat with it."
Speaking to CBS News Chicago House added: "I feel ecstatic. The voters have spoken. They've spoken in a loud way." The network reported Henyard declined to comment on the election result.
On Tuesday before the results were announced Henyard said: "I can't wait until the results come in this evening. I'm going to come in by a landslide, and when I do the people will speak."
What Happens Next
The general Dolton mayoral election is scheduled to take place in April. The village is a Democratic Party stronghold, meaning as the Democratic candidate, House has a strong chance of victory. He will face off against independent rival Casundra Hopson-Jordan.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines