The First Family-Elect: Lori Lightfoot shares the spotlight with her daughter, Vivian, and wife, Amy. (Photo by Kevin Beese/Chronicle Media)

On Tuesday evening, Lori Lightfoot was called “smart,” “caring” and “compassionate.” On May 20, she will also be called “mayor.”

The former federal prosecutor won in a landslide Tuesday, capturing 74 percent of the vote over her opponent, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

In her victory speech Tuesday night at the Chicago Hilton, Lightfoot vowed to be a mayor for all the residents and all areas of the city.

“All of our neighborhoods will get the same attention and resources as Downtown,” Lightfoot said. “We are going to invest in our neighbors and our neighborhoods.”

Lightfoot is the first black woman to be elected mayor of Chicago. She is also the first openly

Chicago Mayor-Elect Lori Lightfoot greets supporters Tuesday night after her victory speech at the Chicago Hilton. (Photo by Kevin Beese/Chronicle Media)

gay person to be elected mayor of the city.

One of the loudest roars from the hotel’s packed Grand Ballroom was when Lightfoot said whom a person loves should not be an issue.

“It’s doesn’t matter who you love as long as you love with all your heart,” the mayor-elect said.

Lightfoot said she understands the task she is taking on is mighty and that Chicago has to make major changes to grow population instead of continuing to lose it.

“A shrinking city is where we are and that just won’t do,” Lightfoot said. “We cannot afford to fail.”

Ald. Matthew O’Shea (19^th Ward) told the Chronicle that he expects Lightfoot to have a City

Council that would work with her unlike the last black elected mayor, Harold Washington.

Despite there being “a lot of new faces,” on the council, O’Shea said, residents have said things have to change and Lightfoot will be that agent of change.

“Voters made it clear that change in Chicago has to happen,” the 19^th Ward alderman said. “The voters have given Lori a mandate. They said they want to make changes.”

 kbeese@chronicleillinois.com