1837 Chicago mayoral election

Chicago mayoral election, 1837

May 2, 1837 1838 →

Candidate William B. Ogden John H. Kinzie Party Democratic Whig Popular vote 470 233 Percentage 66.86% 33.14%

Mayor before election John H. Kinzie (as Town President) Whig Elected mayor William B. Ogden Democratic

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The 1837 Chicago mayoral election was held on May 2, 1837. It was the first Chicago mayoral election, taking place the same year as Chicago's incorporation as a city. Democratic candidate William B. Ogden defeated Whig incumbent Town President John H. Kinzie by a landslide 38.5 point margin.

Shortly after the election Ogden was sworn in as Chicago's first mayor. This set the precedent of scheduling Chicago's mayoral inauguration for the month of May, a practice which has continued for most of the city's history into the present.^[1]

The election coincided with elections to the Common Council. In addition to winning the mayor's office, Democrats took all 10 seats of the Common Council.^[2]