Objectively, how liberal/progressive is Chicago *compared to other large American cities*? (Lincoln: apartment, rent)

[MassVt]

Chicago is the pragmatic version of the Democratic Party, which is the moderate version. The more extreme side can be found in the City by the Bay...

I'd place these cities in this order, in terms of "leftness":

Chicago<Boston<San Francisco

[TBideon]

The transplants are liberal, the local whites are mildly conservative though pro-union, the local blacks and Hispanic, are democratic though often homophobic, and the local Asians.. not sure.

[agun77]

Originally Posted by TBideon

The transplants are liberal, the local whites are mildly conservative though pro-union, the local blacks and Hispanic, are democratic though often homophobic, and the local Asians.. not sure.

Pretty much spot-on.

Asians aren't really a major racial voting bloc in Chicago when compared to whites, blacks, and Hispanics, and they mostly live in scattered pockets across the city (Bridgeport, Chinatown, and Argyle St in Uptown). Based on my experiences in those neighborhoods, I'd say the local Asians are socially conservative Democrats.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by agun77

Pretty much spot-on.

Asians aren't really a major racial voting bloc in Chicago when compared to whites, blacks, and Hispanics, and they mostly live in scattered pockets across the city (Bridgeport, Chinatown, and Argyle St in Uptown). Based on my experiences in those neighborhoods, I'd say the local Asians are socially conservative Democrats.

I wouldn't be surprised if most Asians in the City of Chicago are not even eligible voters. Almost everyone living in Chinatown and Uptown seems to be a foreigner. It could just be who I interact with, but that's the way it seems to be.

[artillery77]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

I wouldn't be surprised if most Asians in the City of Chicago are not even eligible voters. Almost everyone living in Chinatown and Uptown seems to be a foreigner. It could just be who I interact with, but that's the way it seems to be.

Almost everyone that is first generation that fled from a communist country is conservative...but likely happy enough to be away that whatever they've come to they'll make it home. The rest doesn't matter. Cuban, Vietnamese, Romanian....conservative.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by artillery77

Almost everyone that is first generation that fled from a communist country is conservative

But also among the first to laugh and roll their eyes at conservative Americans who refer to anything associated with the US as "Socialism" or (especially) "Communism," in my experience.

[artillery77]

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

But also among the first to laugh and roll their eyes at conservative Americans who refer to anything associated with the US as "Socialism" or (especially) "Communism," in my experience.

My point being, simply, that the race matters less than the country having just left.

[Drewjdeg]

Originally Posted by artillery77

Almost everyone that is first generation that fled from a communist country is conservative...but likely happy enough to be away that whatever they've come to they'll make it home. The rest doesn't matter. Cuban, Vietnamese, Romanian....conservative.

Source?

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

As others have said, I think it was traditionally Democratic primarily due to labor issues, immigration patterns etc.

These days the transplants are likely “liberal” primarily for the reason young people are everywhere — fear of utter and complete ostricization and demonization if they express a contrary point of view.

One thing that makes Chicago different from SF/LA is those cities are dominated by hugely influential and visible industries that set the tone for everything. There’s no one group of people who do that here.Chicago is largely made up of transplants, many of whom probably come from more conservative backgrounds. But, by and large, they toe the line.

That said, I don’t think it’s a place where the next big liberal ideas/movements will be born.

"Chicago is largely made up of transplants"--What?? During the early 20th century it certainly was. But I don't see Chicago being a big draw now days for young people other than those people in the adjacent midwest.

This example is only anecdotal, but when I worked in Chicagoland decades ago, nearly ALL of my many co-workers grew up in Chicagoland (I had not.) I found that NOT to be true in CA or Phoenix (my co-workers were from all over the country in those places.)

[damba]

Originally Posted by DougStark

"Chicago is largely made up of transplants"--What?? During the early 20th century it certainly was. But I don't see Chicago being a big draw now days for young people other than those people in the adjacent midwest.

This example is only anecdotal, but when I worked in Chicagoland decades ago, nearly ALL of my many co-workers grew up in Chicagoland (I had not.) I found that NOT to be true in CA or Phoenix (my co-workers were from all over the country in those places.)

That was decades ago, amigo. Chicago has plenty of transplants from all over now. We have ten fortune 500 companies’ hq and heck of a lot more to offer.