Willie Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson in 2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1948-06-16)June 16, 1948 (age 77) Gilbert, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2020) Willie Wilson Party (2020–present) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Willie Wilson (born June 16, 1948)[1] is an American businessman andperennial political candidate fromChicago, Illinois. He unsuccessfully ran in the2015,2019, and2023 Chicago mayoral elections, the2016 United States presidential election, and for theUnited States Senate in2020.
Wilson has owned and operated several differentMcDonald's restaurant franchises and owns Omar Medical Supplies, which imports and distributes latex gloves and other medical and safety supplies and equipment.[2][3] He also produces the nationally syndicatedgospel music television programSingsation, which won aChicago/Midwest Emmy Award in 2012.[2][4][5]
Wilson was born the son of asharecropper inLouisiana.[5]
Wilson completed aseventh grade education[6][7] beforedropping out ofprimary school.[8]
Wilson later received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Mt. Carmel Theological Seminary and anhonorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Chicago Baptist Institute International.[9]
Wilson left home at age thirteen, and began his working life earning twenty cents per hour working in cotton and sugar cane fields.[10]
Wilson lived for periods of time inMiami andNew York City, before settling in Chicago in 1965.[10]
Wilson worked various jobs once he moved to Chicago, before being hired to mop floors and flip burgers at aMcDonald's.[10] He worked his way up, being eventually promoted to manager, and later receiving a loan to become a McDonald's franchisee, thus starting his business career.[10]
In his career as a businessman, Wilson owned five McDonald's franchises (which he subsequently sold) and started a medical-supply company.[5][10] He also produced the nationally syndicatedgospel music television programSingsation[2][4]
He has served as the founder and Chairman of the Board of Omar Medical Supplies, Inc.[10][6]
Wilson served on the Board of Chicago Baptist Institute.[6]
Wilson served as the Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on Fair Practices in Contracting.[6] In 2014, Illinois Governor-electBruce Rauner appointed Wilson to his transition team.[11] Wilson has contended in 5 elections in the United States.
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Wilson ran forMayor of Chicago in 2015, being one of several challengers to incumbent mayorRahm Emanuel.
Wilson collected 43,000 signatures for his candidature petition within five days. Emanuel issued a challenge to the validity of signatures collected.[12] Emanuel ultimately dropped his challenge to Wilson's petition.[13]
Wilson staked out a number of positions, including advocating for bringing acasino to Chicago and restoringMeigs Field (onNortherly Island) as an airport.[10] Wilson was critical of Police SuperintendentGarry McCarthy, and pledged to fire him if elected mayor.[10] Wilson was also critical ofChicago Public Schools school closures which had taken place under Emanuel.[10]
Wilson placed third in a five-candidate race with 50,960 votes, equal 10.66% of the votes cast.[14][15][16]
Wilson's endorsement in the runoff was actively sought by both candidates Rahm Emanuel andJesús "Chuy" García.[17] Wilson endorsed García.[18][19]
 | |
| Campaign | 2016 United States presidential election |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Willie Wilson |
| Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Status | Dropped Out |
| Headquarters | 345 E. Wacker Unit 4601, Chicago, IL 60601[20] |
| Key people | Andre Faircampaign treasurer |
| Receipts | US$1,100,421 (5/06/2016[20]) |
| Slogan | We Still Believe |
| Website | |
| Archive of Official website | |
After setting up an exploratory committee on May 11, 2015, Wilson officially announced on June 1, 2015, that he would be running as a candidate forPresident of the United States in the2016 election. He ran as aDemocrat.[2][21][22][23]
The Wilson campaign was the first presidential campaign, Democratic or Republican, to buy advertisements in the state ofIowa.[24]
Wilson was on the ballot in several states during the2016 Democratic primaries. He was the only minor candidate to appear on the ballot in South Carolina's "First in the South" primaries, perhaps due to the comparatively higher cost of the state's ballot entry fee.[25] Wilson received 1,314 votes, or 0.35% of the total, in South Carolina, placing ahead of former Maryland GovernorMartin O'Malley. Wilson dropped out on April 12, 2016.[26]
In the general election, Wilson voted for Republican nomineeDonald Trump.[27]
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Detailed below are theFEC-filed finances ofWillie Wilson 2016 as of 5/6/2016[20]
| Financial Source | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Federal Funds | 0 |
| Itemized Individual Contributions | 28,685 |
| Unitemized Individual Contributions | 6,705 |
| Party Committees Contributions | 0 |
| Other Committees Contributions | 0 |
| Total Contributions | 35,390 |
| Transfers from Authorized Committees | 0 |
| Candidate Loans | 1,055,100 |
| Other Loans | 0 |
| Total Loans | 1,055,100 |
| Offsets to Operating Expenditures | 9,931 |
| Fundraising Offsets | 0 |
| Legal and Accounting Offsets | 0 |
| Total Offsets | 9,857 |
| Other Receipts | 0 |
| Total Receipts | 1,100,421 |
| Disbursements | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Operating Expenditures | 1,055,444 |
| Transfers To Authorized Committees | 0 |
| Fundraising | 0 |
| Exempt Legal and Accounting | 0 |
| Candidate Loan Repayments | 11,627 |
| Other Loan Repayments | 0 |
| Total Loan Repayments | 11,627 |
| Individual Contribution Refunds | 0 |
| Political Party Contribution Refunds | 0 |
| Other Committee Contribution Refunds | 0 |
| Total Contribution Refunds | 0 |
| Other Disbursements | 33,350 |
| Total Disbursements | 1,100,421 |
| Category | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Beginning Cash On Hand | 0 |
| Current Cash On Hand | 0 |
| Net Contributions | 35,390 |
| Net Operating Expenditures | 1,045,512 |
| Debts/Loans Owed By Campaign | 1,043,472 |
| Debts/Loans Owed To Campaign | 0 |
In March 2018, Wilson formally announced that he would run a second time forMayor of Chicago in the2019 mayoral election.[28]
During his campaign, Wilson generated controversy for handing out money to churchgoers. This practice of his was challenged before the Illinois State Board of Elections, which found that it did not violate any campaign finance laws since the money came from his non-profit foundation. Wilson defended his actions, declaring that his church appearances were not campaign-related, and that he was notbuying votes.[29] He continued this practice after the decision by the Board of Elections.[30]
During the campaign, in late November 2018, Wilson declared that he believed that other black candidates needed, "to get out of the way."[31]
Wilson launched challenges to the candidature petitions of several black candidates,[31] including Roger Washington,[31]Ja'Mal Green,[31] Neal Sales-Griffin,[32] andDorothy Brown.[32] At the last minute, Wilson moved to drop his challenge to Sales-Griffin's and Brown's petitions. Brown was still removed from the ballot due toToni Preckwinkle maintaining her challenge to Brown's petition, but Sales-Griffin was allowed to be included on the ballot.[32] Chicago Electoral Board Chair Marisel Hernandez chastised the Wilson campaign for its political maneuvers regarding ballot challenges.[32]
Wilson was endorsed by the Cook County Republican Party.[33]
Wilson failed to make it to the runoff, placing fourth with 59,072 votes, equal 10.61% of vote cast.[34][35][36] Wilson performed very well on the West and South sides of the city.[37] Despite placing fourth, Wilson had a plurality of the vote in more wards than any other candidate (he came first in thirteen wards).[36][38][39][40] The thirteen wards that Wilson carried a plurality of the vote in were all predominately black (these being thirteen out of the total of eighteen wards in the city that are predominately black).[41]
Again, Wilson's endorsement was actively sought by both candidates in the runoff.[42] Wilson endorsedLori Lightfoot.[43][44][45]
In August 2019, Wilson expressed his intention to challenge incumbent United States Senator from IllinoisDick Durbin in 2020, running in the general election as an independent challenger to Durbin.[46] Rather than run as an independent, he ultimately opted to run under the ballot line of his newly created "Willie Wilson Party".[47]
Wilson received the support of three current and former Chicago aldermen, as well as that of theFraternal Order of Police.[48]
Wilson received 4% of the vote statewide, finishing in a distant third place. His highest support came from the majority-black wards of Chicago where he had done well in both his mayoral campaigns. Totaling up all 18 of Chicago's majority-black wards, Wilson garnered 18.5% of the vote, well ahead of RepublicanMark Curran, who received only 4%, but still far behind Durbin who received 75.9%.[48]
Wilson launched a third campaign to become the Mayor of Chicago. Wilson ran as an independent, as Chicago hosts non-partisan elections. In the winter, Wilson donated various resources to combat theCOVID-19 pandemic. In response to high inflation, Wilson organized various gas giveaways[49] and food donations.[50]
Wilson’s campaign cited key issues in his platform as being small businesses, increasing safety, and ‘rebuilding’ Chicago.[51] Wilson advocated for increased safety on public transport,[52] crime reduction, tax reduction,[53] and opposing corruption. He also supported the abolishment of red-light traffic cameras,[54] parking meter reform,[55] and other issues.
Wilson accused incumbent mayorLori Lightfoot of mismanagement, especially relating to gas prices and economic reinvigoration. He also called out corruption in the city, and said some officials were “out of touch” with the public.[56] Wilson criticized earlier decisions to implement previous safety measures amid theCOVID-19 pandemic that had the impact of temporary prohibiting church gatherings.[57]
Describing himself as "pro policeman", Wilson stood in opposition to rules and regulations that he regards as hindering the police's ability to combat crime. At one mayoral debate, Wilson declared that the city should, "Take the handcuffs off the policy, [sic] put them on people that's actually doing [crime]," and that those who flee police should be, "hunted down like rabbits".[58] Wilson spoke positively of theChicago Police Department.[57]
Wilson was considered to be the only of the nine candidates on the ballot not to be affiliated with theDemocratic Party, though the election is officially nonpartisan.[59]
In the initial round of the election, Wilson was defeated, placing fifth of nine candidates with 49,248 votes (9.57% of the election's overall vote). A week after the first round, Wilson subsequently endorsedPaul Vallas in the runoff election.[60]
Wilson is married to Janette Wilson. As of 2023, he lives in Chicago's downtown.[8]
Wilson's son Omar, who was involved in gangs and drug dealing, was shot and killed at the age of 20.[10]
Wilson self-identifies as anindependent Democrat.[27]
In the 2016 United States Presidential general election, Wilson personally voted for Republican nomineeDonald Trump.[27] When asked in 2019 about his possible vote in the2020 election, Wilson declared, "I am not going to vote, nor will I ever vote again, for President Trump."[27]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, Wilson advocated that churches should be allowed to hold in-person services despite the state'sstay-at-home order.[61]
In his 2023 mayoral campaign, Wilson described himself as "pro policeman".[58]
Wilson stated in 2019 that he believes the spending of tax money has "not proportionately benefited all races of citizens," in Illinois.[27]
Wilson tweeted in response to theObergefell v. Hodges decision, “I disagree with what I consider the Supreme Court’s reinterpretation of what constitutes marriage. Marriage has and should always be that sacred union between a man and a woman. Period."[62] However, in 2018, Wilson declared that he had changed his mind on the issue ofsame-sex marriage, declaring that he now believes that, "everybody is entitled to do whatever they want to do and be with whoever they want to be."[62]
In a 2018 interview with theChicago Sun-Times, Wilson stated that his upbringing in theDeep South had made it difficult for him to understand the LGBTQ community, but that he was "reaching out" and seeking to "learn".[62]
| 2015 Chicago mayoral election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | General Election[63] | Runoff Election[64] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Rahm Emanuel (incumbent) | 218,217 | 45.63 | 332,171 | 56.23 |
| Jesús "Chuy" García | 160,414 | 33.55 | 258,562 | 43.77 |
| Willie Wilson | 50,960 | 10.66 | ||
| Robert W. "Bob" Fioretti | 35,363 | 7.39 | ||
| William "Dock" Walls, III | 13,250 | 2.77 | ||
| Write-ins | 52 | 0.01 | ||
| Total | 478,256 | 100 | 590,733 | 100 |
| 2019 Chicago mayoral election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | General Election[65] | Runoff Election[66] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Lori Lightfoot | 97,667 | 17.54 | 386,039 | 73.70 |
| Toni Preckwinkle | 89,343 | 16.04 | 137,765 | 26.30 |
| William Daley | 82,294 | 14.78 | ||
| Willie Wilson | 59,072 | 10.61 | ||
| Susana Mendoza | 50,373 | 9.05 | ||
| Amara Enyia | 44,589 | 8.00 | ||
| Jerry Joyce | 40,099 | 7.20 | ||
| Gery Chico | 34,521 | 6.20 | ||
| Paul Vallas | 30,236 | 5.43 | ||
| Garry McCarthy | 14,784 | 2.66 | ||
| La Shawn K. Ford | 5,606 | 1.01 | ||
| Robert "Bob" Fioretti | 4,302 | 0.77 | ||
| John Kolzar | 2,349 | 0.42 | ||
| Neal Sales-Griffin | 1,523 | 0.27 | ||
| Write-ins | 86 | 0.02 | ||
| Total | 556,844 | 100 | 523,804 | 100 |
| 2023 Chicago mayoral election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | General election[67] | Runoff election[68] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Brandon Johnson | 122,093 | 21.63 | 319,481 | 52.16 |
| Paul Vallas | 185,743 | 32.90 | 293,033 | 47.84 |
| Lori Lightfoot (incumbent) | 94,890 | 16.81 | ||
| Chuy García | 77,222 | 13.68 | ||
| Willie Wilson | 51,567 | 9.13 | ||
| Ja'Mal Green | 12,257 | 2.17 | ||
| Kam Buckner | 11,092 | 1.96 | ||
| Sophia King | 7,191 | 1.27 | ||
| Roderick Sawyer | 2,440 | 0.43 | ||
| Write-ins | 29 | 0.00 | ||
| Total | 564,524 | 100.00 | 612,514 | 100.00 |
| Date | Contest | Votes | Place | Percent | Delegates | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1 | Iowa caucusA | 0 | N/A | 0.00 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| February 27 | South Carolina primary | 1,314 | 3rd of 4 | 0.35 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| March 1 | Texas primary | 3,254 | 5th of 8 | 0.23 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| March 5 | Louisiana primary | 1,423 | 6th of 10 | 0.46 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| March 8 | Mississippi primary | 919 | 3rd of 5 | 0.40 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| March 15 | Illinois primary | 6,565 | 3rd of 8 | 0.32 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| Missouri primary | 307 | 8th of 10B | 0.05 | 0 | The Green Papers | |
| June 7 | California primary | 10,544 | 3rd of 7 | 0.24 | 0 | The Green Papers |
| North Dakota caucus | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | The Green Papers | ||
| Total(Current) | 25,796 | 8thC | 0.08 | 0 | The Green Papers | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dick Durbin (incumbent) | 3,278,930 | 54.93 | |
| Republican | Mark Curran | 2,319,870 | 38.87 | |
| Willie Wilson Party | Willie Wilson | 237,699 | 3.98 | |
| Libertarian | Danny Malouf | 75,673 | 1.27 | |
| Green | David Black | 55,711 | 0.95 | |
| Write-in | 18 | 0.00 | ||
| Total votes | 5,968,901 | 100 | ||
The Iowa caucuses are just one day away and all of the big-name candidates are prepping for the first official contest of the 2016 presidential race. Among the Democratic candidates is Chicago businessman Willie Wilson. "We keep going. We're here to stay. We're not going anywhere," Wilson said Sunday. While fellow Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have been exchanging jabs about who is the most electable to the White House, Wilson said the National Democratic Party is doing everything it can to stop him from getting traction. "I been turned down eight different times from speaking in Iowa, that's including the debates," Wilson said. Wilson, who is a millionaire, was the first candidate in either party with television ads in Iowa, spending hundreds of thousands of his own dollars. "We're not accepting any money from major corporations," he said. "I'm financing this here 99.9 percent of my own money." His staff blames the Hillary Clinton operatives for silencing and keeping Wilson off the ballot in southern states where African-American voters could be the difference. "He will split the vote between Hillary Clinton and Dr. Willie Wilson and they don't want that," said Nina Morris, of the Wilson campaign. However, Chicago-based political consultant Delmarie Cobb--a Clinton supporter--said the Wilson campaign's disorganization is its worst enemy: "He did not put all of his infrastructure in place," Cobb said. "So he can't necessarily blame it on the Democratic Party." Wilson--a one-time Louisiana cotton-picker who made a fortune in Chicago--still believes he can win primaries in southern states where the Democratic party is dominated by African-Americans.
Despite his larger reach, De La Fuente shares one thing in common with his fellow New Hampshire long shots: None of them will appear on a ballot in South Carolina's "First in the South" primaries on February 20 and 27, where the cost is far more prohibitive than last Tuesday's $1,000 entry fee. The lone South Carolina curiosity will be Willie Wilson, a self-made Chicago businessman, who will appear on the Democratic ballot along with Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley. As in New Hampshire, the former Maryland governor's name will remain on the ballot despite having suspended his campaign after the Iowa caucuses. Wilson previously finished third in the 2015 Chicago mayoral race, and he is the longtime host of the Windy City's television gospel music show "Singsation." Reached by phone in South Carolina yesterday, Wilson said, "I'll be happy if I get 20 percent or so of the delegates … I'm hoping I can win it." Wilson, who recalls going from mopping floors at McDonald's to owning five franchises of his own, knows the road ahead will be difficult. "I believe anything is possible, but I come on this journey to work hard and have faith."