(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago voters made history 40 years ago.
On April 12, 1983, the electorate chose Harold Washington as the city’s first African-American mayor.
In the Democratic primary, the South Side congressman defeated incumbent Mayor Jane Byrne and Cook County State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley, son of the former mayor named Daley.
Then, in the general election, a number of white Democrats would endorse Republican Bernard Epton, and the racial polarization would drive voter turnout to a record 82 percent.
Washington won by 48,000 votes.
His popularity grew over time. Known as a champion of the environment and gay rights, Washington would eventually break the coalition of 29 alderman who voted down all of his proposals in the Chicago City Council.
Washington won re-election in 1987 but died of a heart attack in his City Hall office on the day before thanksgiving that year.
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