It was a long night, for many reasons.
So we’ll keep this special early edition of Chicago Public Square to the point.
Donald Trump has won the presidency again. The Associated Press called his victory around 4:30 a.m. Chicago time …
■ … anointing him, in the words of a Washington Post news alert, “the second president to secure nonconsecutive terms and the first felon.” (November 2020 cartoon: The late Keith J. Taylor.)
■ Trump declared victory hours before, in remarks you can read here. (Link corrected.)
■ You can’t blame the Electoral College this time. Trump was on track to do something no Republican candidate has done in 20 years: Win the popular vote.
■ Vice President Harris did carry Illinois.
The Senate turns red. Republicans will take full control of Congress’ upper chamber …
■ … although, at Square’s deadline, Democrats had a shot at a House majority …
■ … thanks in part to a Democratic win in an Illinois district watched nationwide.
Millionaire tax. Illinois voters seemed to have OK’d an advisory referendum calling for higher taxes on income beyond $1 million …
■ … and two other referenda, as you’ll see in this comprehensive roundup of state, county and Chicago results …
■ … including what Chalkbeat describes as “a mixed message” in voters’ picks for the city’s first-ever school board election.
■ Also a winner: Democrat Eileen O’Neill Burke for Cook County state’s attorney.
Be here tomorrow for more news and a look—many looks, most likely—forward.
Thanks. Jim Parks made this edition better.