His challengers could have potentially been denied ballot access had Daley challenged them for collecting an insufficient number of valid signatures in their petitions (mayoral candidates were required by law to collect 25,000 in order to garner ballot access, and only Jakes came near that amount).

[7] A popular incumbent, Daley had won strong victories in the preceding four consecutive mayoral elections.

[7] He was anticipated to become the city's second-longest tenured mayor (after only his own father, Richard J. Daley –who served more than 22 years) when he surpassed Edward Joseph Kelly at the end of the term he was already elected to.

[5] Also briefly challenging Daley, but withdrawing from the race before ballot petitions were to be submitted, had been James Meeks (also African-American).

[9] They struggled in fundraising (each only raising several thousand dollars)[12] and failed to receive backing from black leaders.

[12] After his mother's death, Daley ceased making campaign appearances, though he continued airing television advertisements.