View source for Harold Washington

{{Short description|Illinois politician and 51st mayor of Chicago}}
{{for|the professor of Hebrew Bible|Harold C. Washington}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name          = Harold Washington
| image         = Washington h.jpg
| caption       = Washington, circa 1982
| office        = 51st [[Mayor of Chicago]]
| term_start    = April 29, 1983
| term_end      = November 25, 1987
| deputy        = [[Richard Mell]]<br />[[David Orr]]
| predecessor   = [[Jane Byrne]]
| successor     = [[Eugene Sawyer]]<br />David Orr (acting)
| state1        = [[Illinois]]
| district1     = {{ushr|IL|1|1st}}
| term_start1   = January 3, 1981
| term_end1     = April 30, 1983
| predecessor1  = [[Bennett Stewart]]
| successor1    = [[Charles Hayes (politician)|Charles Hayes]]
| state_senate2 = Illinois
| district2     = 26th
| term_start2   = January 12, 1977
| term_end2     = January 3, 1981
| predecessor2  = [[Cecil A. Partee]]
| successor2    = [[James C. Taylor]]
| office3       = Member of the<br />[[Illinois House of Representatives]]
| term_start3   = January 13, 1965
| term_end3     = January 12, 1977
| predecessor3  = ''redistricting''
| successor3    = [[Peggy Smith Martin]]
| constituency3 = At-large (1965-67)<br />26th district (1967-77)
| birth_name    = Harold Lee Washington
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1922|4|15}}
| birth_place   = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| death_date    = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|1987|11|25|1922|4|15}}}}
| death_place   = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| signature     = Harold_Washington's_Signature.png
| party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse        = {{marriage|Dorothy Finch|1942|1950|end=divorced}}
| partner       = Mary Ella Smith (1967–1987)
| children      = 
| education     = [[Roosevelt University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Northwestern University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = [[United States Army]]
| service_years = 1942–1945
| rank          = [[First Sergeant]]
| unit          = [[United States Army Air Corps]]<br />[[United States Army Air Forces]]
| battles       = World War II<br />{{*}}[[Pacific War|South Pacific]]<br />{{*}}[[Pacific War|Central Pacific]] 
}}

'''Harold Lee Washington''' (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American politician and lawyer who was the 51st [[mayor of Chicago]] from 1983 until his death in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Mayors |url=https://www.chipublib.org/chicago-mayors/ |website=Chicago Public Library |access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he was the first Black person to hold the office.

Entering politics as a critic of Chicago mayor [[Richard J. Daley]], Washington served in both houses of the [[Illinois General Assembly]]. He was subsequently elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] in [[1980 United States House of Representatives elections|1980]] and was reelected in [[1982 United States House of Representatives elections|1982]]. He ran for Mayor of Chicago in the [[1983 Chicago mayoral election|1983 election]]. During the Democratic primary, he defeated incumbent mayor [[Jane Byrne]] and State's Attorney [[Richard M. Daley]], son of the late mayor, in an upset. Many members of the city's [[ethnic white]] Democratic [[Cook County Democratic Party#Under Richard J. Daley|political machine]] backed his [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opponent, [[Bernard Epton]], in the general election. However, Washington prevailed, winning the close race.

Washington's first term as mayor was dominated by a racially polarized political conflict dubbed the [[Council Wars]]. A 29-alderman majority on the [[Chicago City Council]], led by [[Edward Vrdolyak]] and [[Edward M. Burke|Edward Burke]], battled Washington and effectively blocked his agenda. Running for reelection in [[1987 Chicago mayoral election|1987]], he won the Democratic primary against former mayor Jane Byrne. He went on to defeat Vrdolyak in the general election, expanding upon his 1983 margins. Starting his second term with a supportive majority on the city council, the Council Wars largely subsided. However, Washington died in office a few months later.

Considered one of the most prominent Black elected officals of the 1980s, Washington's [[Progressivism|progressive]] agenda and multi-racial political coalition inspired many, including future President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-11-26 |title=How Mayor Washington Influenced Barack Obama |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/how-mayor-washington-led-to-president-obama/1946198/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |work=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Harold Washington Story |url=https://dusablemuseum.org/exhibition/harold-washington-story/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center |language=en-US}}</ref> Multiple Chicago landmarks are named in honor of Washington, including the [[Chicago Public Library]]'s [[Harold Washington Library|main branch]] and [[Harold Washington College|one of the city's community colleges]].

==Biography==
===Ancestry===
The earliest known ancestor of Harold Lee Washington, Isam/Isham Washington, was born a slave in 1832 in North Carolina.<ref name=ancestry>{{cite book |last1=Brasfield |first1=Curtis |title=The Ancestry of Mayor Harold Washington |date=1993 |publisher=Heritage Books, Inc. |location=Bowie, Maryland |isbn=1-55613-750-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/ancestryofmayorh00bras/page/7 7], 14–22 |edition=First |url=https://archive.org/details/ancestryofmayorh00bras/page/7 }}</ref> In 1864, he enlisted in the [[8th Regiment Heavy Artillery U.S. Colored Troops|8th United States Colored Heavy Artillery]], Company L, in Paducah, Kentucky. Following his discharge in 1866, he began farming with his wife, Rebecca Neal, in Ballard County, Kentucky. Among their six children was Isam/Isom McDaniel (Mack) Washington, who was born in 1875. In 1896, Mack Washington married Arbella Weeks of Massac County, who had been born in Mississippi in 1878. In 1897, their first son, Roy L. Washington, father of Harold Washington, was born in Ballard County, Kentucky. In 1903, shortly after both families moved to [[Massac County, Illinois]], the elder Washington died. After farming for a time, Mack Washington became a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, serving numerous churches in Illinois until the death of his wife in 1952. Reverend I.M.D. Washington died in 1953.<ref name=ancestry />

===Early life and education===
Harold Lee Washington was born on April 15, 1922, at [[Cook County Hospital]] in Chicago,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBqmMkHK8BIC&pg=PA1|title=Harold Washington: Political Pioneer|first=Carole|last=Marsh|date= 2002|publisher=Gallopade International|isbn=978-0-635-01504-4|access-date=May 26, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> to Roy and Bertha Washington. While still in high school in [[Lawrenceville, Illinois]], Roy met Bertha from nearby [[Carrier Mills, Illinois|Carrier Mills]] and the two married in 1916 in [[Harrisburg, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brasfield |first1=Curtis |title=The Ancestry of Mayor Harold Washington |date=1993 |publisher=Heritage Books, Inc. |location=Bowie, Maryland |isbn=1-55613-750-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ancestryofmayorh00bras/page/22 22–28] |url=https://archive.org/details/ancestryofmayorh00bras/page/22 }}</ref> At a time when most African Americans and Chicago residents supported the Republican Party, Roy Washington was one of the first black [[precinct captain]]s for the Chicago Democratic Party; he also worked as a lawyer and [[Methodist]] minister.<ref>''Hamlish Levinsohn, p. 246'', relates that Washington identified himself with his grandfather and father Roy's Methodist background. {{harvnb|Rivlin|1992|p=42}} notes that at age 4, Harold and his brother, 6, were sent to a private [[Benedictine]] school in Wisconsin. The arrangement lasted one week before they ran away from the school and hitchhiked home. After three more years and thirteen escapes, Roy placed Harold in Chicago city public schools.</ref>

Bertha left the family, possibly to seek her fortune as a singer, when Harold was four.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=42}} Harold Washington grew up in [[Douglas, Chicago]] a neighborhood on the city's South Side that was the center of black culture for the entire Midwest in the early and middle 20th century. Edward and Harold stayed with their father, while Roy Jr. and Geneva were cared for by their grandparents. After attending St. Benedict the Moor Boarding School in Milwaukee from 1928 to 1932, Washington attended [[DuSable High School]], a new [[Racial segregation in the United States|racially segregated]] public school, from 1936 to 1939.<ref name="Illinois Library">{{cite web|url=https://omeka-s.library.illinois.edu/s/idhh/page/chicago-mayor-washington-early-life|title=Chicago Mayor Washington: Early Life|publisher=University of Illinois Library|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> In a citywide track meet in 1939, Washington claimed first place in the 110-meter high hurdles and second place in the 220-meter low hurdles, playing a key role in the school's victory in the Chicago Public League Championship that year.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=44}}

Washington left high school during his senior year and joined the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] in 1939.<ref name="Illinois Library"/>{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=44}} He later worked at a meatpacking plant before his father helped him get a job at the [[U.S. Treasury]] branch in the city. There he met Nancy Dorothy Finch, whom he married soon after; Washington was 19 and Dorothy was 17.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=44}}<ref name="Chicago Public Library"/>

===Military service===
In 1942, Washington was drafted into the United States Army for the war effort and, after basic training, sent overseas as part of the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, a [[African-American discrimination in the U.S. Military|racially segregated unit]] of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Air Force Engineers]].{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|pp=44-45}}<ref name=Congress>{{cite web|url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/W000180|title=Washington, Harold|publisher=U.S. Congress|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Chicago Public Library">{{cite web|url=https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-harold-washington-biography/|title=Mayor Harold Washington Biography|publisher=Chicago Public Library|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> Washington was part of a unit that built a bomber landing strip on [[Angaur]] island in [[Palau]] in just 29 days, an action that earned the unit a [[Meritorious Unit Commendation|Meritorious Service Unit Award]]. Eventually, Washington rose to the rank of [[First Sergeant]] in the [[United States Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces]]; he was honorably discharged in 1946 and was awarded his high school diploma from DuSable.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Harold_the_People_s_Mayor/2flQDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover&bsq=Dusable%20diploma Harold, the People's Mayor, The Biography of Harold Washington] Dempsey Travis,  2017</ref><ref name="Chicago Public Library"/>{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=44}}

===Roosevelt College===
In the summer of 1946, Washington, aged 24 and a war veteran, enrolled at [[Roosevelt University|Roosevelt College]] (now Roosevelt University).<ref name="levinsohn_42-43">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 42–43.</ref> Washington joined other groups of students not permitted to enroll in other local colleges. Local estimates place the student population of Roosevelt College at about 1/8&nbsp;black and 1/2&nbsp;Jewish. A full 75% of the students had enrolled because of the "nondiscriminatory progressive principles".<ref name="levinsohn_42-43" /> Washington chaired a student fundraising drive, and then was named to a committee that supported citywide efforts to outlaw "[[restrictive covenants]]" in housing, the legal means by which members of ethnic minority groups (especially blacks and, to a lesser extent, Jews) were prohibited from purchasing real estate in predominantly white neighborhoods of the city.<ref name="levinsohn_44">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 44.</ref>

In 1946, Washington was elected the third president of Roosevelt's student council; he was also the first black student to win that office.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=45}}<ref name="levinsohn_51-53"/> Washington saw [[Henry A. Wallace]] as an influence.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=45}} Under his leadership, the student council successfully petitioned the college to have student representation on Roosevelt's faculty committees. At the first regional meeting of the newly founded [[National Student Association]] in the spring of 1948, Washington and nine other delegates proposed student representation on college faculties, and a "Bill of Rights" for students; both measures were roundly defeated.<ref name="levinsohn_51-53">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 51–53.</ref> The next year, Washington went to the state capital at [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] to protest [[Illinois State Legislature|Illinois legislators']] coming probe of "subversives". The probe would outlaw the [[Communist Party USA|Communist Party]] and require "[[loyalty oath]]s" for teachers. Washington led students' opposition to the bills, which would pass later in 1949.<ref name="levinsohn_51-53"/>

During his college years, Washington came to be known for his stability. His friends said that he had a "remarkable ability to keep cool", reason carefully and walk a middle line. Washington intentionally avoided activities considered extremist, including street actions and [[sit-in]]s against racially segregated restaurants and businesses. Overall, Washington and other radical activists ended up sharing a mutual respect for each other, acknowledging both Washington's pragmatism and the activists' idealism. With the opportunities found only at Roosevelt College in the late 1940s, Washington's time at the Roosevelt College proved to be pivotal.<ref name="levinsohn_54-55,59,62">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 54–55, 59, 62.</ref> Washington graduated in August 1949, with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree. In addition to his activities at Roosevelt, he was a member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] fraternity.<ref name="congbio" /><ref name="levinsohn_63">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 63.</ref>

===Northwestern University School of Law===
In 1949, Washington began studies at the [[Northwestern University School of Law]].<ref name="Chicago Public Library"/> where he was the only black student in his class (there were six women in the class, one of them being [[Dawn Clark Netsch]]). In 1951, his last year, he was elected treasurer of the [[Student Bar Association|Junior Bar Association]] (JBA). The election was largely symbolic, however, and Washington's attempts to give the JBA more authority at Northwestern were largely unsuccessful.<ref name="levinsohn_66">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 66.</ref> On campus, Washington joined the [[Nu Beta Epsilon]] fraternity, largely because he and the other people who were members of ethnic minority groups which constituted the fraternity were blatantly excluded from the other fraternities on campus. Overall, Washington stayed away from the activism that defined his years at Roosevelt. During the evenings and weekends, he worked to supplement his [[GI Bill]] income. He received his [[Juris Doctor|JD]] in 1952.<ref name="levinsohn_68-70">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 68–70.</ref>

While attending law school, Washington divorced from his wife Dorothy in 1950; they had no children and had often lived separately during their marriage.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=53}}

== Early political career ==
After completing law school, Washington went into private practice with his father in 1952.<ref name="Illinois Library"/> His law office was near those of [[Ralph Metcalfe]], former Olympic track athlete turned Chicago city alderman for the Third Ward.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|pp=45-46}} Following his father's death in 1953, Washington succeeded his father as [[3rd ward, Chicago|Third Ward]] precinct captain in 1954 and became an assistant prosecutor with the Chicago [[corporation counsel]] office.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=46}}<ref name="History House"/> [[Richard J. Daley]] was elected party chairman in 1952. Daley replaced C.C. Wimbush, an ally of [[William L. Dawson (politician)|William Dawson]], on the party committee with Metcalfe. Under Metcalfe, the 3rd Ward was a critical factor in Daley's [[1955 Chicago mayoral election|1955]] mayoral election victory and ranked first in the city in the size of its Democratic plurality in 1961.<ref name="levinsohn_75">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 75.</ref> While working under Metcalfe, Washington began to organize the 3rd Ward's [[Young Democrats of America|Young Democrats]] (YD) organization. At YD conventions, the 3rd Ward would push for numerous resolutions in the interest of blacks. Eventually, other black YD organizations would come to the 3rd Ward headquarters for advice on how to run their own organizations. Like he had at Roosevelt College, Washington avoided radicalism and preferred to work through the party to engender change.<ref name="levinsohn_86-90">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 86–90.</ref> While working with the Young Democrats, Washington met Mary Ella Smith.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/11/27/mary-ella-smith-still-keeps-the-flame/ |title=Mary Ella Smith Still Keeps The Flame |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=November 27, 1988 |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref> They dated for the next 20 years, and in 1983 Washington proposed to Smith. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Smith said that she never pressed Washington for marriage because she knew Washington's first love was politics, saying, "He was a political animal. He thrived on it, and I knew any thoughts of marriage would have to wait. I wasn't concerned about that. I just knew the day would come."<ref name="kup_19871227">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36DA09871C50C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Kup on Sunday |author=Kup |date=December 27, 1987 |access-date=February 15, 2008 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref>

In 1959 Al Janney, Gus Savage, Lemuel Bentley, Bennett Johnson, Luster Jackson and others founded the Chicago League of Negro Voters, one of the first African-American political organizations in the city. In its first election, Bentley drew 60,000 votes for city clerk. The endorsement of the League was the deciding factor in the re-election of Leon Despres, who was an independent voice on the City Council. Washington was a close friend of the founders of the League and worked with them from time to time. In 1963 the group re-organized as Protest at the Polls. In 1967, Protest at the Polls played a key role in electing Anna Langford, William Cousins and A. A. "Sammy" Rayner, who were not part of the Daley machine, to seats on the City Council. In 1983, Protest at the Polls was instrumental in Washington's run for mayor. By then, the YDs were losing to independent candidates.<ref name="levinsohn_91-92,97">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 91–92, 97.</ref>

== Legislative career ==

=== Illinois House (1965–1976) ===
After the state legislature failed to reapportion districts every ten years as required by the census, the [[1964 Illinois House of Representatives election|1964 election]] was held [[at-large]] to elect all 177 members of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]. With the Republicans and Democrats each only running 118 candidates, independent voting groups attempted to slate candidates. The League of Negro Voters created a "Third Slate" of 59 candidates, announcing the creation of the slate on June 27, 1964. Shortly afterwards, Daley created a slate which included [[Adlai Stevenson III]] and Washington. The Third Slate was then thrown out by the Illinois Election Board because of "insufficient signatures" on the nominating petitions. In the election, Washington was elected as part of the winning Democratic slate of candidates.<ref name="levinsohn_98-99">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 98–99.</ref> Washington's years in the Illinois House were marked by tension with Democratic Party leadership. In 1967, he was ranked by the [[Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization|Independent Voters of Illinois]] (IVI) as the fourth-most independent legislator in the Illinois House and named Best Legislator of the Year. His defiance of the "idiot card", a sheet of paper that directed legislators' votes on every issue, attracted the attention of party leaders, who moved to remove Washington from his legislative position.<ref name="levinsohn_100-106" /> Daley often told Metcalfe to dump Washington as a candidate, but Metcalfe did not want to risk losing the 3rd Ward's Young Democrats, who were mostly aligned with Washington.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|pp=50-52}}

Washington backed [[Renault Robinson]], a black police officer and one of the founders of the [[Afro-American Patrolmen's League]] (AAPL). The aim of the AAPL was to fight against the [[racism]] which was directed against minority officers by the rest of the predominantly white department. Soon after the creation of the group, Robinson was written up for minor infractions, suspended, reinstated, and then placed on the graveyard shift on a single block behind central police headquarters. Robinson approached Washington and asked him to fashion a bill which would authorize the creation of a civilian review board, consisting of both patrolmen and officers, to monitor [[police brutality]]. Both black independent and white liberal legislators refused to back the bill, afraid to challenge Daley's grip on the police force.{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|pp=50-52}}

After Washington announced that he would support the AAPL, Metcalfe refused to protect him from Daley. Washington believed that he had the support of [[Ralph Tyler Smith]], [[Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]]. Instead, Smith criticized Washington and then allayed Daley's anger. In exchange for the party's backing, Washington would serve on the [[Chicago Crime Commission]], the group Daley tasked with investigating the AAPL's charges. The commission promptly found the AAPL's charges "unwarranted". An angry and humiliated Washington admitted that on the commission, he felt like Daley's "showcase ni***r".{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|pp=50-52}} In 1969, Daley removed Washington's name from the slate; only by the intervention of [[Cecil Partee]], a party loyalist, was Washington reinstated. The Democratic Party supported Jim Taylor, a former professional boxer, Streets and Sanitation worker, over Washington. With Partee and his own ward's support, Washington defeated Taylor.<ref name="levinsohn_100-106">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 100–106.</ref> His years in the House of Representatives were focused on becoming an advocate for black rights. He continued work on the Fair Housing Act, and worked to strengthen the state's Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC). In addition, he worked on a state Civil Rights Act, which would strengthen employment and housing provisions in the federal [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. In his first session, all of his bills were sent to committee or tabled. Like his time in Roosevelt College, Washington relied on parliamentary tactics (e.g., writing amendments guaranteed to fail in a vote) to enable him to bargain for more concessions.<ref name="levinsohn_107-108">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 107–108.</ref>

Washington was accused of failing to file a tax return, even though the tax was paid.  He was found guilty and sentenced to 36 days in jail. (1971)<ref>{{cite news | work = Chicago Tribune | date = November 13, 2017 | title = Remembering Mayor Harold Washington's death, 30 years ago | first = Ron |last=Grossman | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flash-harold-washington-death-1112-20171108-story.html|access-date=May 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511100129/https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flash-harold-washington-death-1112-20171108-story.html|archive-date=May 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name="History House">{{cite news | publisher = history.house.gov | title = Washington, Harold | author = United States House of Representatives | url = https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/23428}}</ref>

Washington also passed bills in honor of civil rights figures. He passed a resolution in honor of Metcalfe, his mentor. He also passed a resolution in honor of [[James J. Reeb]], a Unitarian minister who was beaten to death by a segregationist mob in [[Selma, Alabama]]. After the 1968 [[assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.]], he introduced a series of bills which were aimed at making King's birthday a state holiday.<ref name="ReferenceA">Travis, "Harold", The Peoples Mayor, 81–82.</ref> The first was tabled and later vetoed. The third bill he introduced, which was passed and signed by Gov. Richard Ogilvie, made Dr. King's birthday a commemorative day observed by Illinois public schools.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> It was not until 1973 that Washington was able, with Partee's help in the Senate, to have the bill enacted and signed by the governor.<ref name="levinsohn_109-110">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 109–110.</ref>

====1975 speakership campaign====
Washington ran a largely symbolic campaign for Speaker. He only received votes from himself and from [[Lewis A. H. Caldwell]].<ref name="levinsohn_a"/> However, with a divided Democratic caucus, this was enough to help deny Daley-backed [[Clyde Choate]] the nomination, helping to throw it to [[William A. Redmond]] after 92 rounds of voting.<ref name="levinsohn_a"/>

Redmond had Washington appointed as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.<ref name="levinsohn_a"/>

==== Legal issues ====
In addition to Daley's strong-arm tactics, Washington's time in the Illinois House was also marred by problems with tax returns and allegations of not performing services owed to his clients. In her biography, Levinsohn questions whether the timing of Washington's legal troubles was politically motivated. In November 1966, Washington was re-elected to the House over Daley's strong objections; the first complaint was filed in 1964; the second was filed by January 1967.<ref name="levinsohn_143-144">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 143–144.</ref> A letter asking Washington to explain the matter was sent on January 5, 1967. After failing to respond to numerous summons and subpoenas, the commission recommend a five-year suspension on March 18, 1968. A formal response to the charges did not occur until July 10, 1969. In his reply, Washington said that "sometimes personal problems are enlarged out of proportion to the entire life picture at the time and the more important things are abandoned." In 1970, the Board of Managers of the [[Chicago Bar Association]] ruled that Washington's license be suspended for only one year, not the five recommended; the total amount in question between all six clients was $205.<ref name="levinsohn_146-152">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 146–152.</ref>

In 1971, Washington was charged with failure to file tax returns for four years, although the [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS) claimed to have evidence for nineteen years. Judge [[Joseph Sam Perry|Sam Perry]] noted that he was "disturbed that this case ever made it to my courtroom"—while Washington had paid his taxes, he ended up owing the government a total of $508 as a result of not filing his returns. Typically, the IRS handled such cases in civil court, or within its bureaucracy. Washington pleaded "no contest" and was sentenced to forty days in Cook County Jail, a $1,000 fine, and three years of probation.<ref name="levinsohn_154-156">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 154–156.</ref>{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|pp=178–180}}

===Illinois Senate (1976–1980)===
====Campaign for a seat on the Illinois Senate====
In 1975, Partee, now [[President of the Illinois Senate|President of the Senate]] and eligible for his pension, decided to retire from the Senate. Although Daley and Taylor declined at first, at Partee's insistence, Washington was ultimately slated for the seat and he received the party's support.<ref name="levinsohn_121-122">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 121–122.</ref> Daley had been displeased with Washington for having run a symbolic challenge in 1975 to Daley-backed [[Clyde Choate]] for Speaker of the Illinois House (Washington had only received two votes).<ref name="levinsohn_121-122"/> Additionally, he had ultimately helped push the vote towards Redmond as a compromise candidate.<ref name="levinsohn_a"/> The [[United Automobile Workers]] union, whose backing Washington obtained, were critical in persuading Daley to relent to back his candidacy.<ref name="levinsohn_a"/>

Washington defeated [[Anna Langford]] by nearly 2,000 votes in the Democratic primary.<ref name="levinsohn_a">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983)</ref> He went on to win the general election.

====Human Rights Act of 1980====
In the [[Illinois Senate]], Washington's main focus worked to pass 1980's Illinois Human Rights Act. Legislators rewrote all of the human rights laws in the state, restricting discrimination based on "race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, or unfavorable discharge from military service in connection with employment, real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public accommodations."<ref name='ilcs'>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2266&ChapAct=775%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B5%2F&ChapterID=64&ChapterName=HUMAN+RIGHTS&ActName=Illinois+Human+Rights+Act. |year=1970 |access-date=April 21, 2008 |author=Illinois General Assembly |title=(775 ILCS 5/) Illinois Human Rights Act.}}</ref> The bill's origins began in 1970 with the rewriting of the [[Illinois Constitution]]. The new constitution required all governmental agencies and departments to be reorganized for efficiency. Republican governor [[James R. Thompson]] reorganized low-profile departments before his re-election in 1978. In 1979, during the early stages of his second term and immediately in the aftermath of the largest vote for a gubernatorial candidate in the state's history, Thompson called for human rights reorganization.<ref name="levinsohn_130-131">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 130–131.</ref> The bill would consolidate and remove some agencies, eliminating a number of political jobs. Some Democratic legislators would oppose any measure backed by Washington, Thompson and Republican legislators.

For many years, human rights had been a campaign issue brought up and backed by Democrats. Thompson's staffers brought the bill to Washington and other black legislators before it was presented to the legislature. Washington made adjustments in anticipation of some legislators' concerns regarding the bill, before speaking for it in April 1979. On May 24, 1979, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 59 to 1, with two voting present and six absent. The victory in the Senate was attributed by a Thompson staffer to Washington's "calm noncombative presentation".<ref name="levinsohn_132-134">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 132–134.</ref> However, the bill stalled in the House. State Representative [[Susan Catania]] insisted on attaching an amendment to allow women guarantees in the use of credit cards. This effort was assisted by [[Carol Moseley Braun]], a representative from [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]] who would later go on to serve as a U.S. Senator. State Representatives Jim Taylor and Larry Bullock introduced over one hundred amendments, including the text of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, to try to stall the bill. With Catania's amendment, the bill passed the House, but the Senate refused to accept the amendment. On June 30, 1979, the legislature adjourned.<ref name="levinsohn_132-134" />

===United States Representative (1981–1983)===
In 1980, Washington was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in [[Illinois's 1st congressional district]]. He defeated incumbent Representative [[Bennett Stewart]] in the Democratic primary.<ref name="congbio">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000180 |title=Harold Washington |dictionary=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |author=United States Congress |date=n.d. |access-date=January 26, 2008}}</ref><ref name="resolution_08-R-09">{{cite web|url=http://www.cookctyclerk.com/upload/syno_pdf_745.PDF |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.cookctyclerk.com/upload/syno_pdf_745.PDF |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Resolution 08-R-09 (Honoring the life of Harold Washington) |author=Cook County Board of Commissioners |date=December 4, 2007 |access-date=January 26, 2006 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Anticipating that the Democratic Party would challenge him in his bid for re-nomination in 1982, Washington spent much of his first term campaigning for re-election, often travelling back to Chicago to campaign. Washington missed many House votes, an issue that would come up in his campaign for mayor in 1983.<ref name="levinsohn_166-172">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), pp. 166–172.</ref> Washington's major congressional accomplishment involved legislation to extend the [[Voting Rights Act]], legislation that opponents had argued was only necessary in an emergency. Others, including Congressman [[Henry Hyde]], had submitted amendments designed to seriously weaken the power of the Voting Rights Act.

Although he had been called "crazy" for railing in the House of Representatives against deep cuts to social programs, [[Associated Press]] political reporter Mike Robinson noted that Washington worked "quietly and thoughtfully" as the time came to pass the act. During hearings in the South regarding the Voting Rights Act, Washington asked questions that shed light on tactics used to prevent African Americans from voting (among them, closing registration early, literacy tests, and gerrymandering). After the amendments were submitted on the floor, Washington spoke from prepared speeches that avoided rhetoric and addressed the issues.  As a result, the amendments were defeated, and Congress passed the Voting Rights Act Extension.<ref name="levinsohn_172">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 172.</ref> By the time Washington faced re-election in 1982, he had cemented his popularity in the 1st Congressional District. Jane Byrne could not find one serious candidate to run against Washington for his re-election campaign. He had collected 250,000 signatures to get on the ballot, although only 610 signatures (0.5% of the voters in the previous election) were required. With his re-election to Congress locked up, Washington turned his attention to the next Chicago mayoral election.<ref name="levinsohn_176">Hamlish Levinsohn (1983), p. 176.</ref>

==Mayoralty (1983–1987)==
[[File:Harold Washington (2592).jpg|thumb|right|Washington holds a press conference for his 1983 campaign at the [[Hyatt Regency Chicago]] on December 13, 1982.]]
[[File:Harold Washington at the commissioning of USS Chicago (SSN-721) cropped.jpg|thumb|Harold Washington speaking at the commissioning of {{USS|Chicago|SSN-721|6}}, September 1986.]]

===1983 Chicago mayoral election===
{{main|1983 Chicago mayoral election}}
In the February 22, 1983, Democratic mayoral primary, more than 100,000 new voters registered to vote led by a coalition that included the Latino reformed gang [[Young Lords]] led by [[Jose Cha Cha Jimenez]]. On the North and Northwest Sides, the incumbent mayor [[Jane Byrne]] led and future mayor [[Richard M. Daley]], son of the late Mayor [[Richard J. Daley]], finished a close second. Harold Washington had massive majorities on the South and West Sides.  Southwest Side voters overwhelmingly supported Daley. Washington won with 37% of the vote, versus 33% for Byrne and 30% for Daley. Although winning the Democratic primary was normally considered [[tantamount to election]] in heavily Democratic Chicago, after his primary victory Washington found that his [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opponent, former state legislator [[Bernard Epton]] (earlier considered a nominal stand-in), was supported by many high-ranking Democrats and their ward organizations, including the chairman of the [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] Democratic Party, Alderman [[Edward Vrdolyak]].<ref name="davis_19830412">{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicagodays-haroldwashington-story,0,1660876.story |title=The election of Harold Washington the first black mayor of Chicago |author=Davis, Robert |date=April 12, 1983 |access-date=February 16, 2008 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216023207/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicagodays-haroldwashington-story,0,1660876.story }}</ref>

Epton's campaign referred to, among other things, Washington's conviction for failure to file [[income tax]] returns (he had paid the taxes, but had not filed a return). Washington, on the other hand, stressed reforming the Chicago patronage system and the need for a jobs program in a tight economy. In the April 12, 1983, mayoral general election, Washington defeated Epton by 48,250 votes, 52% to 48%, to become mayor of Chicago.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://chicagodemocracy.org/ElectionResults.jsp?election=crdd_general%2Ccrdd_1983_general_election%2Cil_chi_mayor | title=Election Results for 1983 General Election, Mayor, Chicago, IL}}</ref> Washington was sworn in as mayor on April 29, 1983, and resigned his Congressional seat the following day.

=== First term and Council Wars ===
During his tenure as mayor, Washington lived at the [[Hampton House (Chicago, Illinois)|Hampton House]] apartments in the [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]] neighborhood of Chicago. He created the city's first environmental-affairs department under the management of longtime Great Lakes environmentalist [[Lee Botts]]. Washington's first term in office was characterized by conflict with the city council dubbed "[[Council Wars]]", referring to the then-recent ''[[Star Wars]]'' films and caused Chicago to be nicknamed "[[Beirut]] on the [[Lake Michigan|Lake]]". A 29-alderman City Council majority refused to enact Washington's legislation and prevented him from appointing nominees to boards and commissions. First-term challenges included city population loss and a massive decrease in ridership on the [[Chicago Transit Authority]] (CTA).{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} Assertions that the overall crime rate increased were incorrect.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/84/harold|title=Harold|work=This American Life|access-date=November 25, 2017}}</ref>

The 29, also known as the "Vrdolyak 29", were led by Vrdolyak (who was an Alderman in addition to Cook County Democratic Party chairman) and Finance Chair, Alderman [[Edward M. Burke|Edward Burke]]. Parks superintendent Edmund Kelly also opposed the mayor. The three were known as "the Eddies" and were supported by the younger Daley (now State's Attorney), U.S. Congressmen [[Dan Rostenkowski]] and [[Bill Lipinski]], and much of the Democratic Party. During his first city council meeting, Washington and the 21 supportive aldermen walked out of the meeting after a quorum had been established. Vrdolyak and the other 28 then chose committee chairmen and assigned aldermen to the various committees. Later lawsuits submitted by Washington and others were dismissed by [[Supreme Court Justice]] [[James C. Murray]]<ref name="sheppard_19830517">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/17/us/rebels-win-court-decision-in-chicago-council-dispute.html |title=Rebels Win Court Decision in Chicago Council Dispute |author=Sheppard |date=May 17, 1983 |access-date=March 6, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> because it was determined that the appointments were legally made. Washington ruled by veto. The 29 lacked the 30th vote they needed to override Washington's veto; female and African American aldermen supported Washington despite pressure from the Eddies. Meanwhile, in the courts, Washington kept the pressure on to reverse the redistricting of city council wards that the city council had created during the Byrne years. During special elections in 1986, victorious Washington-backed candidates in the first round ensured at least 24 supporters in the city council.  Six weeks later, when [[Marlene Carter]] and [[Luis Gutiérrez|Luís Gutiérrez]] won run-off elections, Washington had the 25 aldermen he needed. His vote as president of the City Council enabled him to break 25–25 tie-votes and enact his programs.

===1987 election===
{{main|1987 Chicago mayoral election}}
Washington defeated former mayor [[Jane Byrne]] in the February 24, 1987, Democratic mayoral primary by 79,238 votes, 54% to 46%, and in the April 7, 1987, mayoral general election defeated Vrdolyak (Illinois [[Solidarity Party (Illinois)|Solidarity Party]]) by 131,797 votes, 54% to 42%, with Northwestern University business professor Donald Haider (Republican) getting 4%, to win reelection to a second term as mayor. Cook County Assessor [[Thomas Hynes (politician)|Thomas Hynes]] (Chicago First Party), a Daley ally, dropped out of the race 36 hours before the mayoral general election. During Washington's short second term, the Eddies lost much of their power: Vrdolyak became a Republican, Kelly was removed from his powerful parks post, and Burke lost his Finance Committee chairmanship.

===Political Education Project (PEP)===
From March 1984 to 1987, the Political Education Project (PEP)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagohistory.org/static_media/pdf/historyfair/washington_harold_and_the_machine.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624032054/http://www.chicagohistory.org/static_media/pdf/historyfair/washington_harold_and_the_machine.pdf|title=Chicago History – PEP Project|archive-date=June 24, 2016}}</ref> served as Washington's political arm, organizing both Washington's campaigns and the campaigns of his political allies. Harold Washington established the Political Education Project in 1984. This organization supported Washington's interests in electoral politics beyond the Office of the Mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/08/22/lavelle-at-home-in-hot-seat/|title=Lavelle at Home in Hot Seat|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=August 22, 1986 |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/is-tim-evans-for-real/Content?oid=873531|title=Is Tim Evans for Real?|first=Doug|last=Cassel|date=March 16, 1989|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527201345/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/is-tim-evans-for-real/Content?oid=873531}}</ref> PEP helped organize political candidates for statewide elections in 1984 and managed Washington's participation in the 1984 Democratic National Convention as a "favorite son" presidential candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Favorite Son Slate Planned |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 4, 1984 |access-date=June 6, 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/04/us/favorite-son-slate-planned.html}}</ref> PEP used its political connections to support candidates such as [[Luis Gutiérrez]] and [[Jesús "Chuy" García]] through field operations, voter registration and Election Day poll monitoring. Once elected, these aldermen helped break the stalemate between Washington and his opponents in the city council. Due to PEP's efforts, Washington's City Council legislation gained ground and his popularity grew as the 1987 mayoral election approached.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf|title=Harold Washington's Political Education Project Records, Chicago Public Library Special Collections, Series IV. Special Aldermanic Election, boxes 29–35, 123|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006175400/https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf}}</ref> In preparation for the 1987 mayoral election, PEP formed the Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Washington. This organization carried out fundraising for the campaign, conducted campaign events, and coordinated volunteers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf|title=Harold Washington's Political Education Project Records, Chicago Public Library Special Collections, Series V. 1987 Mayoral Election, boxes 35–100, 123, 124, 126|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006175400/https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf}}</ref> PEP staff members, such as Joseph Gardner and [[Helen Shiller]], went on to play leading roles in Chicago politics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/05/17/gardner-loses-fight-with-cancer/|title=Gardner Loses Fight With Cancer|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 17, 1996 |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref>

The organization disbanded upon Harold Washington's death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf|title=Harold Washington's Political Education Project Records, Chicago Public Library Special Collections|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006175400/https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf}}</ref> Harold Washington's Political Education Project Records is an archival collection detailing the organization's work. It is located in the Chicago Public Library Special Collections, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/p/Spcharold/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229033630/http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/p/Spcharold/ |archive-date=December 29, 2013 }}</ref>

=== DuSable Park ===
{{Main|DuSable Park (Chicago)}}
Washington, during his mayorship, announced a plan to redevelop a commercial site into a [[DuSable Park (Chicago)|DuSable Park]], named in honor of [[Jean Baptiste Point du Sable]], the honorary founder of the city. The project has yet to be completed, has experienced a number of bureaucratic reconceptions and roadblocks, and is currently spearheaded by the [[DuSable Heritage Association]].

===Approval ratings===
Despite tumult between Washington and the City Council, Washington enjoyed positive approval among the city's residents.<ref name="Moser1">{{cite web |last1=Moser |first1=Whet |title=Rahm Emanuel: The Least Popular Mayor in Modern Chicago History |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/february-2016/rahm-emanuel-the-least-popular-mayor-in-modern-chicago-history/ |website=Chicago Magazine |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

An April 1987 ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' poll of voters indicated that there was a significant age and gender gap in Washington's approval, with Washington being more popularly approved of by voters under the age of 55 and by male voters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lentz |first1=Philip |title=Gender, age gap confront mayor in '87 poll shows |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388460247 |url-access=subscription| via=Newspapers.com |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=April 21, 1987}}</ref>

{{Chart|definition=Harold Washington approval rating.chart|data=Harold Washington approval rating.tab|Width=600}}

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 75%"
|-
! [[Voter segments in political polling|Segment polled]]
! Polling source
! Date
! Approve
! Disapprove
! Sample size
! Margin-of-error
! Polling method
! Citation
|-
| Registered voters
| Market Shares Corp. and ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| March 12–15, 1987
| style="background:#006800; color: white" |67%
|
| 1,145
| ±3
| Telephone
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Robert |title=Mayor is cruising in job-rating poll |work=Chicago Tribune |language=en |date=March 24, 1987}}:
* {{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Robert |title=Mayor is cruising in job-rating poll |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388767161 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |work=Chicago Tribune |language=en |date=March 24, 1987 |page=1}}
* {{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Robert |title=Mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388767161 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |work=Chicago Tribune |language=en |date=March 24, 1987 |page=2}}</ref>
|-
| Registered voters
| [[Penn Schoen]]
| October 1986
| style="background:#006800; color: white" |54%
| 39%
| 1,200
|
|
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Vrdolyak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388735696 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=November 18, 1986}}</ref>
|-
| Residents
| ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| October 29–November 3, 1985
| style="background:#006800; color: white" |60%
| 30%
| 515
|
|
| <ref name="Nealnov181985">{{cite web |last1=Neal |first1=Steve |title=Mayor's job rating at its highest yet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388520596 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=November 18, 1985}}</ref>
|-
| Residents
| ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| March 1985
| style="background:#006800; color: white" |35%
| 21%
|
|
|
| <ref name="Nealnov181985"/>
|-
|
| ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| 1985
| style="background:#006800; color: white" |54%
| 36%
|
|
|
| <ref name="Moser1"/>
|}

===Academic assessments===
A 1993 survey of historians, political scientists and urban experts conducted by Melvin G. Holli of the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]] ranked Washington as the nineteenth-best American big-city mayor to have served between the years 1820 and 1993.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Holli | first = Melvin G. | title = The American Mayor | publisher = PSU Press | year = 1999 | location = University Park | url = https://archive.org/details/americanmayorbes0000holl | isbn = 0-271-01876-3 }}</ref> A separate 1985 survey of experts on Chicago politics by Holli saw the then-incumbent Washington ranked eleventh-best among all Chicago mayors (up to that time). A 1994 iteration of the same survey of Chicago political experts saw Washington ranked third-best among all Chicago mayors.<ref name="holli1">{{cite journal |last=Holli |first=Melvin |title=The Experts Choose Chicago's Greatest Mayors |journal=The Public Perspective |date=September 1995 |url=https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2018-07/65054.pdf |access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref>

==Death and funeral==
[[File:Grave of Harold Lee Washington (1922–1987) at Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago 1.jpg|thumb|right|Washington mausoleum at Oak Woods Cemetery]]

On November 25, 1987, at 11:00&nbsp;am, [[Chicago Fire Department]] paramedics were called to City Hall. Washington's press secretary, Alton Miller, had been discussing school board issues with the mayor when Washington suddenly slumped over on his desk, falling unconscious. After failing to revive Washington in his office, paramedics rushed him to [[Northwestern Memorial Hospital]]. Further attempts to revive him failed, and Washington was pronounced dead at 1:36&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="davis_19871126">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF68F31FB93F51A&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Mayor's death stuns city – black leader, 65, on verge of a dream |author=Davis, Robert |date=November 26, 1987 |access-date=January 26, 2008}}</ref>

At Daley Plaza, Patrick Keen, project director for the Westside [[Habitat for Humanity]], announced Washington's official time of death to a separate gathering of Chicagoans. Initial reactions to the pronouncement of his death were of shock and sadness, as many black people believed that Washington was the only top Chicago official who would address their concerns.<ref name="brotman_19871126">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF68F2E803A817B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Chicagoans mourn the loss of their leader |date=November 26, 1987 |access-date=January 26, 2008 |author=Brotman, Barbara |newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WBEZ Radio News; 1987{{snd}}excerpts, Mourning a Mayor and Moving On|url=http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-526-2804x55m3z|access-date=2021-03-11|website=American Archive of Public Broadcasting|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Following his death, President [[Ronald Reagan]] issued a statement calling Washington a "dedicated and outspoken leader who guided one of our nation's largest cities through the 1980's".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/statement-death-harold-washington|title=Statement on the Death of Harold Washington|publisher=Reagan Library.org|access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref>

Thousands of Chicagoans attended his [[Wake (ceremony)|wake]] in the lobby of [[Chicago City Hall|City Hall]] between November 27 and 29, 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-121116-chicago-mayor-harold-washington-pictures/|title=Photos: Chicago Mayor Harold Washington |work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref> On November 30, 1987, Reverend B. Herbert Martin officiated Washington's funeral service in [[Christ Universal Temple]] at 119th Street and Ashland Avenue in Chicago. After the service, Washington was buried in [[Oak Woods Cemetery]] on the South Side of Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1987/12/01/chicago-weeps-as-mayor-washington-laid-to-rest/|title=Chicago Weeps As Mayor Washington Laid To Rest|date=December 1987 |access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224444/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1987-12-01/news/0160310247_1_harold-washington-mayor-chicago|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/01/us/foes-unite-in-tribute-at-chicago-mayor-s-funeral.html|title=Foes Unite in Tribute at Chicago Mayor's Funeral|author=Dirk Johnson|newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 1987 |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref>

===Rumors===
Immediately after Washington's death, rumors about how Washington died began to surface. On January 6, 1988, Dr. Antonio Senat, Washington's personal physician, denied "unfounded speculations" that Washington had [[cocaine]] in his system at the time of his death, or that foul play was involved. [[Cook County]] [[Medical Examiner]] Robert J. Stein performed an [[autopsy]] on Washington and concluded that Washington had died of a heart attack. Washington had weighed {{convert|284|lb|kg|0}}, and suffered from [[hypertension]], [[Hypercholesterolemia|high cholesterol]] levels, and an [[Cardiomegaly|enlarged heart]].<ref name="williams_19880107">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36DABC60075D3&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Washington's doctor debunks foul play talk |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |author=Williams, Lillian |date=January 7, 1988 |access-date=January 29, 2008}}</ref> His diet was "heavy in fat and sodium", wrote [[Gary Rivlin]].{{sfn|Rivlin|1992|p=408}} On June 20, 1988, Alton Miller again indicated that drug reports on Washington had come back negative, and that Washington had not been poisoned prior to his death. Dr. Stein stated that the only drug in Washington's system had been [[lidocaine]], which is used to stabilize the heart after a heart attack takes place. The drug was given to Washington either by paramedics or by doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.<ref name="tribune_19880621">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF7DFEFB29D7E80&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=No drug link to ex-mayor's death |author=Unknown |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 21, 1988 |access-date=January 29, 2008}}</ref> [[Bernard Epton]], Washington's opponent in the 1983 general election, died 18 days later, on December 13, 1987.

==Legacy==
{{multiple image
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 | width1    = 150
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 | image3    = 20061022 Hampton House and South end of Harold Washington Park.JPG
 | width3    = 150
 | caption3  = [[Harold Washington Park]]
}}
At a party held shortly after his re-election on April 7, 1987, Washington said to a group of supporters, "In the old days, when you told people in other countries that you were from Chicago, they would say, 'Boom-boom! Rat-a-tat-tat!' Nowadays, they say [crowd joins with him], 'How's Harold?'!"<ref name="terry_19870407">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D5FC7C67DF0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Mayor proves results worth singing about |author1=Terry, Don |author2=Pitt, Leon |date=April 8, 1987 |access-date=January 27, 2007 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref>

In later years, various city facilities and institutions were named or renamed after the late mayor to commemorate his legacy. The new building housing the main branch of the [[Chicago Public Library]], located at 400 South [[State Street (Chicago)|State Street]], was named the [[Harold Washington Library Center]]. The [[Chicago Public Library]] Special Collections, located on the building's 9th floor, house the Harold Washington Archives and Collections. These archives hold numerous collections related to Washington's life and political career.<ref>Harold Washington Archives and Collections at Chicago Public Library {{cite web |url=http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/p/Spcharold/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229033630/http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/p/Spcharold/ |archive-date=December 29, 2013 }}</ref> The building also contains [[Jacob Lawrence]]'s mural ''[[Events in the Life of Harold Washington]]''.

Five months after Washington's sudden death in office, a ceremony was held on April 19, 1988, changing the name of Loop College, one of the [[City Colleges of Chicago]], to [[Harold Washington College]]. Harold Washington Elementary School in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood is also named after the former mayor. In August 2004, the {{convert|40000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} [[Harold Washington Cultural Center]] opened to the public in the [[Douglas, Chicago#Bronzeville|Bronzeville]] neighborhood. Across from the Hampton House apartments where Washington lived, a city park was renamed [[Harold Washington Park]], which was known for "Harold's Parakeets",<ref>[http://www.monkparakeet.com/jmsouth/nests1.html Monk Parakeet Nests in Harold Washington Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317053549/http://www.monkparakeet.com/jmsouth/nests1.html |date=March 17, 2012 }}</ref> a colony of feral [[monk parakeet]]s that inhabited Ash Trees in the park. A building on the campus of [[Chicago State University]] is named Harold Washington Hall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://csu.edu/locator/campusmap/index.htm# |title= Chicago State University|website=csu.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501044553/http://csu.edu/locator/campusmap/index.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2012}}</ref>

Six months after Washington's death, [[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] student David Nelson painted ''[[Mirth & Girth]]'', a full-length portrait depicting Washington wearing women's lingerie. The work was unveiled on May 11, 1988, opening day of SAIC's annual student exhibition.<ref name="hanania_19880513">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36DD3D90C4278&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Art Institute surrenders – Will bar controversial painting of Washington |date=May 13, 1988 |access-date=January 27, 2008 |author1=Hanania, Ray |author2=Cronin, Barry |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> Within hours, City aldermen and members of the Chicago Police Department seized the painting. It was later returned, but with a five-inch (13&nbsp;cm) gash in the canvas. Nelson, assisted by the [[ACLU]], filed a federal lawsuit against the city, claiming that the painting's confiscation and subsequent damaging violated his First Amendment rights. The complainants eventually split a [[USD|US$]]95,000 (1994, [[USD|US$]]138,000 in 2008) settlement from the city.<ref name="lehmann_20080921">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB421DDDCC02773&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=City settles suit over Washington painting |date=September 21, 1994 |access-date=February 10, 2008 |author1=Lehmann, Daniel J. |author2=Golab, Art |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref>

In 1989, the Near South Planning Board established the Harold Washington Literary Award, given annually, which "recognizes diverse and stimulating authors who address issues of contemporary life and whose literary achievements include a significant body of work that has touched the public mind and imagination."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harold Washington Literary Award |url=https://thenspb.org/literacy-programs/harold-washington-literary-award/ |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Near South Planning Board |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{hatnote|Percentages may not total 100 because of rounding}}

===Illinois State Representative===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[1964 Illinois House of Representatives election |1964 Illinois House of Representatives general election]]{{efn|This is a pulled list of ten candidates with similar vote totals to Harold Washington as the original ballot had 236 candidates.}}<ref name=ILSBE>{{Cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/DownloadVoteTotals.aspx?T=637992959831528061 |title=Downloadable Vote Totals |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=[[Illinois State Board of Elections]] }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| party = . . .
| candidate = . . .
| votes = . . .
| percentage = . . .
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Leland J. Kennedy ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Paul E. Rink]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes =  
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = James D. Carrigan ([[incumbent]])
| votes =  
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Joe W. Russell ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Melvin McNairy
| votes = 
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = ''Harold Washington''
| votes =  
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[John Jerome Hill|John Jerome (Jack) Hill]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Clyde Lee ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Clyde L. Choate]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes =  
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Charles Ed Schaefer ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| party = . . .
| candidate = . . .
| votes = . . .
| percentage = . . .
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes =
| percentage = 
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Representative District Democratic primary, 1966<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 28426.5
| percentage = 57.9
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Owen D. Pelt
| votes = 17,035.5
| percentage = 34.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Peggy Smith Martin]]
| votes = 3,818
| percentage = 7.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 49280
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Representative District general election, 1966<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 55513
| percentage = 44.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Owen D. Pelt
| votes = 53783.5
| percentage = 42.8
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = J. Horace Gardner
| votes = 16294.5
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 125591
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Representative District Democratic primary, 1968<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 17670.5
| percentage = 51.6
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Owen D. Pelt ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 12153
| percentage = 35.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Peggy Smith Martin]]
| votes = 2,367
| percentage = 6.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Ulmer D. Lynch Jr.
| votes = 2,067
| percentage = 6.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 34257.5
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Representative District general election, 1968<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 70203.5
| percentage = 48.3
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]]
| votes = 65616
| percentage = 45.1
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = J. Horace Gardner ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 9571.5
| percentage = 6.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 145391
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Representative District Democratic primary, 1970<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 21072.5
| percentage = 53.4
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 14828.5
| percentage = 37.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Peggy Smith Martin]]
| votes = 1,916.5
| percentage = 4.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Clyde Exson
| votes = 1,654.5
| percentage = 4.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 39472
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Representative District general election, 1970<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 45686
| percentage = 48.0
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 42996
| percentage = 45.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = J. Horace Gardner ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 6461.5
| percentage = 6.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 95143.5
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Representative Democratic primary, 1972<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 26123
| percentage = 40.1
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Peggy Smith Martin]]
| votes = 21199
| percentage = 32.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 17,876.5
| percentage = 27.4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 65198.5
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Representative general election, 1972<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 49706.5
| percentage = 37.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Peggy Smith Martin]]
| votes = 47527.5
| percentage = 35.6
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent politician
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 25240
| percentage = 18.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Maurice Beacham
| votes = 11,042
| percentage = 8.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 133516
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Representative Democratic primary, 1974<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 27999
| percentage = 54.0
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 12854.5
| percentage = 24.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Peggy Smith Martin]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 10,960
| percentage = 21.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 51813.5
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Representative general election, 1974<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 30556.5
| percentage = 41.4
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[James C. Taylor]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 29764.5
| percentage = 40.3
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent politician
| candidate = Taylor Pouncey
| votes = 8685.5
| percentage = 11.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Jerry Washington Jr.
| votes = 2,990.5
| percentage = 4.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Magnolia Prowell
| votes = 1,817
| percentage = 2.5
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 73814
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Illinois State Senator===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Senator Democratic primary, 1976<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 9030
| percentage = 56.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Anna Langford|Anna R. Langford]]
| votes = 6,897
| percentage = 43.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 15927
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Senator general election, 1976<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 42365
| percentage = 95.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Edward F. Brown
| votes = 2,147
| percentage = 4.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 44512
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Senator Democratic primary, 1978<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 8953
| percentage = 49.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Clarence C. Barry
| votes = 8,734
| percentage = 48.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Sabrina A. Washington
| votes = 459
| percentage = 2.5
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18146
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 26th Legislative District Senator general election, 1978<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 21291
| percentage = 81.4
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| party = Citizens For Taylor Pouncey
| candidate = Clarence C. Barry
| votes = 4,854
| percentage = 18.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 26145
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===U.S. Congressman===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Illinois's 1st congressional district]] Democratic primary, 1980<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Harold Washington
| votes = 30522
| percentage = 47.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Ralph H. Metcalfe Jr.
| votes = 12,356
| percentage = 19.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Bennett Stewart|Bennett M. Stewart]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 10,810
| percentage = 16.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = [[John Stroger|John H. Stroger Jr.]]
| votes = 10,284
| percentage = 16.1
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 11
| percentage = nil
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 63983
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 1st congressional district general election, 1980<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Harold Washington
| votes = 119562
| percentage = 95.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = George Williams
| votes = 5,660
| percentage = 4.5
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 1
| percentage = nil
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 125223
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 1st congressional district Democratic primary, 1982<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 69799
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 8
| percentage = nil
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 69807
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois's 1st congressional district general election, 1982<ref name=ILSBE />
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 172641
| percentage = 97.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Charles Allen Taliaferro
| votes = 4,820
| percentage = 2.7
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 1
| percentage = nil
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 177462
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Chicago Mayor===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Chicago]] mayoral special Democratic primary, 1977<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chicagodemocracy.org/ElectionResults.jsp?election=crdd_primary%2Ccrdd_1977_primary_election%2Cil_chi_mayor |title=Election Results for 1977 Primary Election, Mayor, Chicago, IL |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Chicago Democracy Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130113038/http://chicagodemocracy.org/ElectionResults.jsp?election=crdd_primary%2Ccrdd_1977_primary_election%2Cil_chi_mayor |archive-date=2018-11-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Michael A. Bilandic]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 368404
| percentage = 51.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Roman Pucinski]]
| votes = 235,795
| percentage = 32.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington
| votes = 77,322
| percentage = 10.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Edward Hanrahan]]
| votes = 28,643
| percentage = 4.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Andy Martin|Anthony Robert Martin-Trignona]]
| votes = 6,674
| percentage = 0.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Ellis Reid
| votes = 4,022
| percentage = 0.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 720860
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Chicago mayoral Democratic primary, 1983<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6469 |title=Chicago Mayor – D Primary |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Our Campaigns}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington
| votes = 424324
| percentage = 36.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Jane Byrne]] ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 393,500
| percentage = 33.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Richard M. Daley]]
| votes = 346,835
| percentage = 29.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Frank R. Ranallo
| votes = 2,367
| percentage = 0.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = William Markowski
| votes = 1,412
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Sheila Jones
| votes = 1,285
| percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1169723
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Chicago mayoral election, 1983<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=53273 |title=Chicago Mayor |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Our Campaigns}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington
| votes = 668176
| percentage = 51.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = [[Bernard Epton]]
| votes = 619,926
| percentage = 48.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Socialist Workers Party (United States)
| candidate = Eddie L. Warren
| votes = 3,756
| percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1291858
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Chicago mayoral Democratic primary, 1987<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=385714 |title=Chicago Mayor – D Primary |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Our Campaigns}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 586841
| percentage = 53.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = [[Jane Byrne]]
| votes = 507,603
| percentage = 46.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Sheila Jones
| votes = 2,549
| percentage = 0.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1096993
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[1987 Chicago mayoral election|Chicago mayoral election, 1987]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=123284 |title=Chicago Mayor |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Our Campaigns}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Harold Washington ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 600290
| percentage = 53.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Solidarity Party
| candidate = [[Edward Vrdolyak]]
| votes = 468,493
| percentage = 42.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = [[Donald Haider]]
| votes = 47,652
| percentage = 4.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1116435
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
* [[List of African-American United States representatives]]
* [[Ed Lee (politician)|Ed Lee]], the first Asian American Mayor of San Francisco, who also died in office of a heart attack at the same age as Washington
* ''[[Events in the Life of Harold Washington]]'' (mural)

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==

;Sources

* {{citation |title=Fire on the Prairie: Chicago's Harold Washington and the Politics of Race |url=https://archive.org/details/fireonprairiechi0000rivl|last=Rivlin| first=Gary |year=1992 |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |location=New York |isbn=0-8050-1468-3 |url-access=registration}}
;Notes

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Further|Bibliography of Chicago history#Black Chicago}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bennett |first=Larry |title=Harold Washington and the black urban regime |journal=Urban Affairs Quarterly |volume=28 |issue=3 |year=1993 |pages=423–440|doi=10.1177/004208169302800304 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Betancur |first1=John J. |first2=Douglas C. |last2=Gills |title=Community Development in Chicago: From Harold Washington to Richard M. Daley |journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |volume=594 |issue=1 |year=2004 |pages=92–108|doi=10.1177/0002716204265181 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Betancur |first1=John J. |first2=Douglas C. |last2=Gills |editor-last1=Betancur |editor-first1=John J. |editor-first2=Douglas C. |editor-last2=Gills |publisher=Garland |isbn=0-8153-3560-1 |chapter=Coalition Experience in Chicago Under Mayor Harold Washington |title=The collaborative city: Opportunities and struggles for Blacks and Latinos in US cities |year=2000 |pages=59–88 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8qbnBoWfrnAC&dq=Harold+Washington&pg=PA59}}
* {{cite book |last=Biles |first=Roger |title=Mayor Harold Washington: Champion of Race and Reform in Chicago |publisher=University of Illinois Press |year=2018 |doi=10.5406/j.ctvvnhdn |isbn=978-0-252-05052-7}}
* {{cite journal |last=Carl |first=Jim |title=Harold Washington and Chicago's Schools Between Civil Rights and the Decline of the New Deal Consensus, 1955–1987 |journal=History of Education Quarterly |volume=41 |issue=3 |year=2001 |pages=311–343|doi=10.1111/j.1748-5959.2001.tb00091.x }}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Clavel |editor-first1=Pierre |editor-first2=Wim |editor-last2=Wiewel |title=Neighborhood Mayor: Harold Washington and the Neighborhoods: Progressive City Government in Chicago, 1983–1987 |year=1991 |location=New Brunswick, New Jersey |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=0-8135-1725-7 |lccn=91009430}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Giloth |first1=Robert |first2=Kari |last2=Moe |title=Jobs, equity, and the mayoral administration of Harold Washington in Chicago (1983–87) |journal=Policy Studies Journal |volume=27 |issue=1 |year=1999 |pages=129–146 |doi=10.1111/j.1541-0072.1999.tb01958.x |url=https://www.academia.edu/57168667}}
* {{cite book |title=Harold Washington: A Political Biography |last=Hamlish Levinsohn |first=Florence |year=1983 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Chicago |isbn=978-0-914091-41-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Helgeson |first=Jeffrey |title=Crucibles of Black Empowerment: Chicago's Neighborhood Politics from the New Deal to Harold Washington |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2014 |oclc=859583698 |isbn=978-0-226-13069-9 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Keating |first=Ann Durkin |title=In the Shadow of Chicago: Postwar Illinois Historiography |journal=Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society |volume=111 |issue=1–2 |year=2017 |pages=120–136 |doi=10.5406/jillistathistsoc.111.1-2.0120 |jstor=10.5406/jillistathistsoc.111.1-2.0120}}
* {{cite journal |last=Keiser |first=Richard A. |title=Explaining African-American Political Empowerment Windy City Politics from 1900 to 1983 |journal=Urban Affairs Review |year=1993 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=84–116|doi=10.1177/004208169302900104 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kleppner |first=Paul |title=Chicago Divided: The Making of a Black Mayor |year=1985 |isbn=0-87580-532-9 |location=DeKalb, Illinois |publisher=Northern Illinois University Press}}
* {{cite book |last=Mantler |first=Gordon K. |title=The Multiracial Promise: Harold Washington's Chicago and the Democratic Struggle in Reagan's America |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-4696-7385-1}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Marshall |first1=Jon |first2=Matthew |last2=Connor |title=Divided Loyalties: The ''Chicago Defender'' and Harold Washington's Campaign for Mayor of Chicago |journal=American Journalism |volume=36 |issue=4 |year=2019 |pages=447–472|doi=10.1080/08821127.2019.1683405 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Peterson |first=Paul E. |title=Washington's Election in Chicago: The Other Half of the Story |journal=PS: Political Science & Politics |volume=16 |issue=4 |year=1983 |pages=712–716|doi=10.1017/S1049096500016048 |doi-broken-date=July 17, 2025 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Preston |first=Michael B. |title=The Election of Harold Washington: Black Voting Patterns in the 1983 Chicago Mayoral Race |journal=PS: Political Science & Politics |volume=16 |issue=3 |year=1983 |pages=486–488 |doi=10.2307/418606|jstor=418606 }}
* {{cite book |title="Harold", The People's Mayor: the Authorized Biography of Mayor Harold Washington |last=Travis| first=Dempsey J. |year=1989 |publisher=Urban Research Press |location=Chicago |isbn=0-941484-08-4 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Asif |title=Curricularizing Social Movements: The Election of Chicago's First Black Mayor as Content, Pedagogy, and Futurities |journal=Journal of Curriculum Theorizing |volume=36 |issue=2 |year=2021 |pages=32–42 |url=http://journal.jctonline.org/index.php/jct/article/view/975/529}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/84/harold "Harold" Program 84] – A ''[[This American Life]]'' radio story that aired on November 21, 1997. It recounts the political history of Washington's mayoralty.  Another program on ''This American Life'' is [http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/376/wrong-side-of-history?act=4 Act 4 "The Other Guy," Program 376: Wrong Side of History]. This program recounts the story of [[Bernard Epton|Bernie Epton]], the opponent in the mayoral race against Harold Washington.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131229033630/http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/p/Spcharold/ Harold Washington Archives and Collections at Chicago Public Library]
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16579146 "The Legacy of Chicago's Harold Washington"], Cheryl Corley, ''[[All Things Considered]]'', November 23, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2007.
* {{YouTube|ARGF5D4AvnA|Harold Washington on the Legacy of Richard J. Daley}}, video excerpt from a 1986 documentary special on [[Richard J. Daley]]
* [https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf Harold Washington's Political Education Project Records, Black Metropolis Research Consortium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228061819/https://bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/sites/bmrcprocessingproject.uchicago.edu/files/Finding%20Aids/Harold%20Washington%27s%20Political%20Education%20Project%20Records.pdf |date=December 28, 2013 }}
* [http://www.gvsu.edu/younglords/ Young Lords in Lincoln Park Neighborhood Collection]
* {{C-SPAN|9263224}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box
|state=Illinois
|district=1
|before=[[Bennett Stewart]]
|after=[[Charles Hayes (politician)|Charles A. Hayes]]
|years=January 3, 1981 – April 30, 1983
}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jane Byrne]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Chicago]]|years=April 29, 1983 – November 25, 1987}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Orr]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 97th–98th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Illinois]]}}
{{USCongRep/IL/97}}
{{USCongRep/IL/98}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Mayors of Chicago}}
{{Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Harold}}
[[Category:Harold Washington|*]]
[[Category:African-American mayors in Illinois]]
[[Category:Mayors of Chicago]]
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Illinois]]
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[[Category:African-American United States Army personnel]]
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[[Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Illinois lawyers]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Illinois state senators]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Roosevelt University alumni]]
[[Category:Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces soldiers]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Illinois]]
[[Category:African-American Methodists]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:African-American history in Chicago]]
[[Category:African Americans in World War II]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]