Jane Byrne for Mayor '87

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Jane Byrne (1933-2014) was the first woman mayor of a major city in the United States, serving as Chicago’s 50th mayor from 1979 to 1983. She lost her bid for re-election in 1983 and 1987, losing the Democratic primary to 51st mayor Harold Washington. Learn about our Washington buttons here. As mayor, Byrne prompted open-air farmers’ markets, started the Taste of Chicago festival, initiated handgun restrictions, declared the first Gay Pride Parade Day in 1981, and welcomed the filming of “The Blues Brothers.” 

Her success in the 1979 election was credited largely to her incumbent opponent Michael Bilandic’s approval dropping due to his lack of plowing efforts and public transportation management during a severe blizzard. She ran on popular sentiments of rebelling against the political machine, which led to disappointment from supporters when she aligned with the establishments and aldermen she had previously disputed. Her term saw high turnover in administration, battles against unions, and contention with the media. The shift she instigated toward the arts, music, and tourism in Chicago has left a lasting impact on the city.