Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth

Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (born 1969/1970)^[1] is an American politician and small business owner. She is the alderwoman for the 48th ward in the Chicago City Council, having won the 2023 election for the office. The 48th ward includes most of the Edgewater neighborhood and parts of the Uptown neighborhood.

Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
Member of the Chicago City Council from the 48th ward
Incumbent
Assumed office May 15, 2023
Preceded by	Harry Osterman
Personal details
Born	1969 or 1970 (age 54–55)
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Illinois, Chicago (BS)

Early life and career

Manaa-Hoppenworth is the daughter of Filipino immigrants.^[2] She graduated from Chicago Academy for the Arts and later earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago.^[3][4] She is the owner of a dance supply store and is a freelance professional photographer.^[4][5] She has also worked as a dance instructor, physical therapist, and account representative for the Chicago Reader.^[3][5]

Early activist and political career

After the election of Donald Trump in the 2016 United States presidential election, Manaa-Hoppenworth co-founded Indivisible Illinois, the state chapter of the national progressive organization Indivisible.^[6] She also founded and led Indivisible Illinois 9th District Andersonville-Edgewater, a local chapter of the organization.^[3] She was also the director of operations for the 2017 Women's March's Chicago protest, helped found non-partisan voter registration organization ILVOTE, and served on the board of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce.^[6][4]

In July 2022, incumbent 48th ward alderman Harry Osterman announced that he would not run for re-election.^[7] Manaa-Hoppenworth announced her candidacy for the seat in August, joining what would become a ten-candidate field.^[8][9][10] In the first round election on February 28, 2023, she placed second and advanced to a runoff election against Joe Dunne.^[11] During the runoff campaign, she endorsed and was endorsed by mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson.^[12] She won the runoff election on April 4, despite Dunne having a fundraising advantage and the endorsement of Osterman.^[6][13] She is the first Filipino American member of City Council and is one of two Asian Americans elected in the 2023 election (alongside Nicole Lee).^[14]

Chicago City Council (2023–present)

Manaa-Hoppenworth has said she will join the Progressive Caucus on City Council, and that her initial priorities include "approving ranked-choice voting, homelessness prevention effort Bring Chicago Home and the emergency mental health initiative Treatment Not Trauma."^[6]

Electoral history

2023 Chicago aldermanic election, 48th ward, runoff election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth	9,289	52.48%
	Nonpartisan	Joe Dunne	8,411	47.52%
Total votes			17,700	100%

2023 Chicago aldermanic election, 48th ward, runoff election^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Joe Dunne	4,181	26.3
	Nonpartisan	Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth	3,647	22.9
	Nonpartisan	Nick Ward	2,956	18.6
	Nonpartisan	Isaac Freilich Jones	1,609	10.1
	Nonpartisan	Larry Svabek	1,039	6.5
	Nonpartisan	Roxanne Volkmann	880	5.5
	Nonpartisan	Andy Peters	589	3.7
	Nonpartisan	Nassir Faulkner	394	2.5
	Nonpartisan	Andre Peloquin	374	2.4
	Nonpartisan	Brian Haag	234	1.5
Total votes			15,903	100.0

References

1. Armentrout, Mitchell (May 15, 2023). "Find Your Alderperson". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
2. "Battle for the 48th Ward: A Sit-down with Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth". RogersEdge Reporter. 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
3. "Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate". The Daily Line. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
4. "2023 Chicago aldermanic candidates answer Tribune questionnaire: Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth". Chicago Tribune. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
5. "ELECTIONS 2023: 48th Ward candidate Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth on why running, biggest differences from other challengers - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
6. Ward, Joe (2023-05-08). "How Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth Channeled Anger Over Trump's 2016 Election To Become Edgewater's Next Alderperson". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
7. Ward, Joe (2022-07-15). "Ald. Harry Osterman Won't Seek Reelection After Three Terms As Edgewater, Uptown Alderman". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
8. "Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth for Alderwoman 48th Ward | Blog". Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth Photography. August 21, 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
9. Heather, Kade (2023-02-12). "Two North Side wards, two retirements — and 16 choices for voters". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
10. Ward, Joe (2023-01-05). "10 Candidates Are Vying To Replace Retiring Ald. Harry Osterman. Here's What 48th Ward Voters Should Know". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
11. Ward, Joe (2023-03-16). "Joe Dunne, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth Go Head To Head In 48th Ward Runoff". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
12. Armentrout, Mitchell (2023-04-08). "Manaa-Hoppenworth makes City Council history in 48th Ward runoff as Dunne concedes". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
13. Ward, Joe (2023-04-05). "Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth Declares Upset Victory In 48th Ward Race". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
14. Hope, Leah (2023-05-02). "Most Asian Americans elected to Chicago City Council, Illinois legislature in 2023". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
15. Chicago Board of Elections. "TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE MUNICIPAL RUNOFF ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND FOR THE SUPPLEMENTARY ALDERPERSON ELECTIONS HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN WARDS 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 21, 24, 29, 30, 36, 43, 45, 46, AND 48 IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON APRIL 4, 2023" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
16. Chicago Board of Elections (March 15, 2023). "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 28, 2023 Municipal General and Alderperson Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in All the Wards in the City of Chicago" (PDF). Retrieved March 15, 2023.