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Candidates declared victory in at least three of those tight contests, but no one was conceding defeat with thousands of outstanding mail ballots.

Johnson won 29 of 50 wards, including a clean sweep of majority African-American wards. He won six Hispanic majority wards to Vallas’ nine. Johnson sealed the deal along the progressive-minded north lakefront and the hipster Milwaukee Avenue corridor.

Today’s update is about an eight-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

From assembling a staff and cabinet to speeding up police hiring and devising a plan to stop the usual summer surge of violent crime, the new mayor has his work cut out for him. No wonder so many would-be contenders took a pass.

Meanwhile in the 24th Ward, Monique Scott declared victory Tuesday night less than a year after she was appointed to the role after her brother stepped down from the City Council.

“Chicago, how the heck are you?” Johnson called out, upon taking the stage at the Grand Horizon Ballroom, 2121 S. Prairie Ave., to claim victory. “Tonight is the gateway to a new future for our city.”

Six candidates were competing in the runoff to replace retiring Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th) and Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st).

With all precincts reporting, Lee held 62% of the vote compared to her challenger Anthony Ciaravino’s 38%.

Replacing outgoing 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman, Angela Clay becomes the first African American to represent the North Side ward, bringing the total number of Council seats held by African Americans to 20. Rival Kim Walz conceded less than two hours after the polls closed.

Ald. James Gardiner received more than 55% of the votes in his race, leading attorney Megan Mathias to concede. In the 30th Ward, Ruth Cruz garnered over 51% of the vote against Jessica Gutiérrez, though mail-in ballots still need to be tallied.

To celebrate his birthday, Freeman and his band are playing two shows at the Green Mill in Uptown.