Harold Washington wins election as the first Black mayor of Chicago after a racially charged campaign.
At a Glance
- Date
- 12 April 1983
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Key people
- Harold Washington
- Category
- Politics & Government
- Source
- 1983 Chicago election results · Chicago History Museum
What It Meant Then
His victory marked a breakthrough for Black political power in a major Northern city.
What It Means Now
Washington's coalition reshaped Chicago politics for a generation.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Harold Washington Is Elected Mayor of Chicago.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/harold-washington-is-elected-mayor-of-chicago/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Harold Washington Is Elected Mayor of Chicago. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/harold-washington-is-elected-mayor-of-chicago/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Harold Washington Is Elected Mayor of Chicago.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/harold-washington-is-elected-mayor-of-chicago/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.