Sophia King

King was born in Colorado. She grew up in Evanston, Illinois,{{cite web|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sophia-king-new-4th-ward-alderman-is-not-nobody-nobody-sent/|title=Sophia King, new 4th Ward alderman, is not nobody nobody sent|author=Spielman, Fran|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|date=2016-04-12|access-date=2016-04-24}} where her family moved after her mother was accepted to attend university at Northwestern.{{cite web |last1=Smallwood |first1=David |title=Sophia King Looks To Keep 4th Ward Seat |url=https://ndigo.com/2019/02/18/sophia-king-looks-keep-4th-ward-seat/ |website=N'Digo |date=18 February 2019}} During her childhood, King spent many of her summers in Jackson, Mississippi.{{cite web |last1=Jay |first1=Corli |title=Meet Sophia King, Chicago's newest mayoral candidate |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/meet-sophia-king-candidate-mayor-chicago |website=chicagobusiness.com |publisher=Crain's Chicago Business |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=August 10, 2022}} King's extended family had lived in the Mississippi delta.

King earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master's degree in education and social policy from Northwestern University.{{cite web|author=Ahern, Mary Ann|date=2016-04-11|title=Emanuel Names Sophia King as New 4th Ward Alderman After Burns' Surprise Resignation|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Emanuel-Names-New-4th-Ward-Alderman-375340951.html|access-date=2016-04-24|publisher=WMAQ-TV}} In the late 1980s, King moved to a house she built with her husband, Alan, in the Kenwood neighborhood.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120630/ISSUE03/306309998/king-of-beats-attorney-juggles-cases-by-day-djs-at-night|title=King of beats: Attorney juggles cases by day, DJs at night|author=Bushey, Claire|publisher=Crain's Chicago Business|date=2012-06-30|access-date=2016-04-24}} Her husband studied for the bar with Michelle Obama and they are friends of the Obama family.

King worked as a chemistry teacher at the Latin School of Chicago. Between 1996 and 2003, King owned the Brush Streaks pottery bar, a small business that was located on 53rd Street in Chicago.

In 1996, King co-founded to establish Ariel Community Academy with Ariel Investments C.E.O. Mellody Hobson. The K-8 school serves North Kenwood and Oakland neighborhood youth, aiming to provide them with an education similar to that offered at the Latin School of Chicago.

King was involved in 2007–2008 with Barack Obama's presidential primary campaign and general election campaign.

King founded Harriett's Daughters, a nonprofit dedicated to employment and wealth creation opportunities for African-American neighborhoods. Prior to her appointment to city council, King was the president of the organization. King also formerly served as president of the Kenwood Advisory Council, and as vice chair of the Chicago chapter of Planned Parenthood King was also a member of the It's Time Organization anti-gun violence group.

In April 2016, King was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to replace outgoing 4th ward alderman Will Burns, who had resigned to become Vice President of Governmental Affairs with AirBnB. King was sworn in to the City Council on April 13, 2016.

King's seat represented one of the financially wealthy and most ethnically diverse wards in the city. It represented areas along the southern lakefront between downtown Chicago and Hyde Park. Laura Washington of the Chicago Tribune described the ward's residents as including, "academic and professional elites, working-class families and a bounty of reliably voting senior citizens."{{cite web |last1=Washington |first1=Laura |title=Laura Washington: Is Sophia King the blue lobster of the 2023 Chicago mayoral race? |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2022/08/29/laura-washington-is-sophia-king-the-blue-lobster-of-the-2023-chicago-mayoral-race/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=29 August 2022}} Neighborhoods in the ward included Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Oakland, Kenwood, and parts of the South Loop. King had been a 4th ward resident since the 1980s.

In anticipation of running for the seat in the 2017 special election, King created a political committee on March 9, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160411/kenwood/sophia-king-named-4th-ward-alderman|title=Sophia King Named 4th Ward Alderman|author=Cholke, Sam|publisher=DNAinfo.com|date=2016-04-12|access-date=2016-04-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531093824/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160411/kenwood/sophia-king-named-4th-ward-alderman|archive-date=2016-05-31}} King was appointed from a field of three finalists and eighteen initial applicants. She won outright election in a 2017 special election, receiving nearly 64% of the vote against four opponents.{{cite web |title=Sophia King |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sophia_King |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=21 January 2023 |language=en}} She had run with the endorsement by President Barack Obama, with whom she has long been friends. Obama had lived in the 4th Ward when he was a Chicago resident.{{cite web |last1=Ruthhart |first1=Bill |last2=Dardick |first2=Hal |title=Obama endorses 4th Ward alderman incumbent |url=https://abc7chicago.com/sophia-king-ebony-lucas-4th-ward-obama/1728532/ |website=ABC7 Chicago |access-date=11 March 2024 |language=en |date=March 15, 2017}} Also endorsing King was County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who had formerly represented the 4th district on the council. Another high-profile endorsement came from Jesse Jackson, whose Rainbow/PUSH organization was headquartered within the ward's boundaries.{{cite web |last1=Ruthhart |first1=Bill |last2=Dardick |first2=Hal |title=Obama, Preckwinkle-backed Ald. King Claims Victory in 4th Ward Special Election |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/03/01/obama-preckwinkle-backed-ald-king-claims-victory-in-4th-ward-special-election |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=1 March 2017}}

In her 2019 reelection, King again received the endorsements of Obama and Preckwinkle. In the coinciding 2019 Chicago mayoral election, King endorsed Toni Preckwinkle. She declared her support for Preckwinkle upon Preckwinkle's entrance into the mayoral race,{{cite news|url=https://hpherald.com/2018/09/20/preckwinkle-announces-mayoral-run-pledges-a-chicago-that-works-for-all-of-us/|title=Preckwinkle announces mayoral run, pledges a Chicago 'that works for all of us'|newspaper=Hyde Park Herald|access-date=December 7, 2018}} which Preckwinkle ultimately lost. However, King herself was handily reelected, receiving more than 66% of the vote against real estate attorney Ebony Lucas, who had also been one of the candidates she had faced in 2017.{{cite web |last1=Golden |first1=Jamie Nesbitt |title=Meet The 7 Candidates Running To Replace Ald. Sophia King In South Side's 4th Ward |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/12/05/meet-the-7-candidates-running-to-replace-ald-sophia-king-in-south-sides-4th-ward |website=Block Club Chicago |access-date=2 November 2024 |date=5 December 2022}}

King was a member of the committees on Rules and Ethics, Health and Environmental Protection, Housing and Real Estate, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, Transportation and Public Way and Workforce Development and Audit.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.legistar.com/PersonDetail.aspx?ID=167474&GUID=9F0CDCDE-8C1F-4D72-8EA2-84D90275B3DB&Search=|title=Legistar Profile – Sophia King|publisher=City Clerk of Chicago|date=2016-04-13|access-date=2016-04-24}} She was the chair of the Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus.{{cite web |last1=McClelland |first1=Edward Robert |title=Mayoral Power Rankings 2023: January 2023 Update |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/news/mayoral-power-rankings-2023-january-2023-update/ |website=Chicago Magazine |access-date=21 January 2023 |date=January 4, 2023}}

King's tenure overlapped with the mayoralties of Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot.

Mayor Emanuel appointed King to the city council. In 2017, King's husband was fined by the Chicago Board of Ethics for illegally lobbying Mayor Emanuel without first registering as a lobbyist.{{cite web |last1=Spielman |first1=Fran |title=Ethics Board drops $2,500 fines against 3 who lobbied mayor via email |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/10/26/18341082/ethics-board-drops-2-500-fines-against-3-who-lobbied-mayor-via-email |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=en |date=26 October 2017}} King criticized the board, accusing them of failing to follow the "spirit or the letter of the law" in fining her husband.{{cite web |title=Alderman defends husband facing fine - North |last=Hardick |first=Hal |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/06/21/ald-king-defends-husband-who-faces-fine-for-lobbying-violation/ |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 21, 2017 |access-date=8 March 2024}} King's husband challenged the matter, and the board ultimately agreed to drop the fine on the condition that King would not commit any further lobbying violations over the next year.{{cite web |title=Ethics Board drops fines against 3 who lobbied Chicago mayor |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-6c4caf3d99ec4a91954297bf9a8fb898 |website=AP News |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=en |date=26 October 2017}}

In 2019, Lori Lightfoot was elected in a runoff against King's endorsed candidate, Toni Preckwinkle.{{cite web |title=Chicago mayor live results: Lori Lightfoot wins historic runoff against Toni Preckwinkle, elected Chicago's first black woman and openly gay mayor - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-mayor-results-lori-lightfoot-wins-historic-runoff-against-toni-preckwinkle-live-updates-2019-04-02/ |website=CBS News |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=2 April 2019}} During Lightfoot's mayoralty, King collaborated with her on certain issues and was at odds with her on others. King and Lightfoot's relationship was said to have soured in 2021 over policy disagreements, including King's proposed restriction on home museums. King also was at odds with Lightfoot over the city's acquisition of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. King argued that Lightfoot had acted beyond her authority in the matter, while Lightfoot accused King not supporting the continued operation of the hospital.

King supported the push for a $15 minimum wage. In June 2019, King introduced the "Raise Chicago" ordinance to the council, which would have increased minimum wage in Chicago to $14 after July 2020 and then $15 after July 2021. The Chicago City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus endorsed the ordinance. Mayor Lightfoot herself had previously voiced her support for a $15 minimum wage in Chicago,{{cite web |last1=Byrne |first1=John |title=Aldermen introduce plan to hike Chicago's minimum wage to $15 in 2021 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/06/12/aldermen-introduce-plan-to-hike-chicagos-minimum-wage-to-15-in-2021 |website=Chicago Tribune |date=12 June 2019}} but did not support King's ordinance as it had been introduced. Aspects of a minimum wage increase were thereafter discussed and negotiated for months before the adoption of an increase ordinance on November 26.

King's original plan eliminated sub-minimum wages for tipped workers. That aspect was met successful opposition from Mayor Lightfoot and the Illinois Restaurant Association. Lightfoot argued that quickly increasing the wages of tipped workers to a minimum of $15 would place be too burdensome a change for businesses, especially small restaurants. Lightfoot, on November 14, 2019, released her own compromise proposal of a minimum wage increase.{{cite web |last1=Elejalde-Ruiz |first1=Alexia |title=Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposes minimum wage hike that would boost tipped workers' pay — but not to full $15 an hour |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/11/13/mayor-lori-lightfoot-proposes-minimum-wage-hike-that-would-boost-tipped-workers-pay-but-not-to-full-15-an-hour |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 March 2024 |date=13 November 2019}} This proposal entitled tipped workers to a minimum wage that would be 60% that of guaranteed to all other workers. The Progressive Reform Caucus criticized this as being insufficient.{{cite web |last1=Spielman |first1=Fran |title=Lightfoot floats minimum wage compromise |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2019/11/13/20963017/minimum-wage-tips-tipped-workers-15-hour-restaurants-lightfoot |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=9 March 2024 |language=en |date=13 November 2019}}

A compromise minimum wage ordinance was adopted by the council on November 26 by a 39-11 vote{{cite web |last1=Gettinger |first1=Aaron |title=Ald. King touts her minimum wage increase, effective today, as beneficial to everyone |url=https://www.hpherald.com/news/politics/ald-king-touts-her-minimum-wage-increase-effective-today-as-beneficial-to-everyone/article_f8d2b962-bbcf-11ea-bbbb-1f739ecab3fe.html |website=Hyde Park Herald |access-date=9 March 2024 |language=en |date=1 July 2020}} with King's support.{{cite web |last1=Elejalde-Ruiz |first1=Alexia |title=Chicago City Council raises minimum wage to $15 by 2021, but restaurant servers still will get lower tipped wage |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/11/26/chicago-city-council-raises-minimum-wage-to-15-by-2021-but-restaurant-servers-still-will-get-lower-tipped-wage/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 March 2024 |date=26 November 2019}} For those employing more that thirteen workers, it increased the minimum wage for most employees (except tipped employees) from the existing $13 to $14 beginning in July 2020 and $15 beginning in July 2021. Every subsequent July 1, there will be an increase in proportion to increase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For employers whose number of employees ranges from 14 to 20, the minimum wage for most employees (except tipped employees) was increased from the existing $13 to $13.50 beginning in July 2020, $14.00 beginning in July 2021, $14.50 beginning in July 2022, and $15 beginning in July 2023, with increases every subsequent July 1 in proportion to any increase in the CPI.{{cite web |title=Chicago Minimum Wage Increase: What Do Employers Need to Know? {{!}} Law Bulletins |url=https://www.taftlaw.com/news-events/law-bulletins/chicago-minimum-wage-increase-what-do-employers-need-to-know |website=Taft Law (Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP) |access-date=9 March 2024 |language=en}}

King advanced the successful local landmarking of the former Michigan Avenue headquarters of Ebony and Jet magazines.{{cite web |title=Black Chicago Fights to Save Historic Ebony Building from Developers |url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/black-chicago-fights-to-save-historic-ebony-building-from-developers/ |website=The Washington Informer |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=2 March 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Hartman |first1=Dr Hermene |title=Say No to Alderman Sophia King's Ordinance on House Museums |url=https://ndigo.com/2021/03/22/say-no-to-alderman-sophia-kings-ordinance-on-house-museums/ |website=N'Digo |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=22 March 2021}} She submitted an emergency request to advance the nomination.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Erick |title=Four years later no historical marker for Johnson Publishing Building |url=https://chicagocrusader.com/four-years-later-no-historical-marker-for-johnson-publishing-building/ |website=Chicago Crusader |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=16 September 2021}} The building was landmarked by the end of 2017.{{cite web |last1=Rodkin |first1=Dennis |title=New apartments pay homage to Ebony/Jet building's history |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/new-apartments-pay-homage-ebonyjet-buildings-history |website=Crain's Chicago Business |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=September 9, 2019}}

In 2021, King proposed imposing outright ban on historic house museums in locations where zoning only allows for detached houses on individual land lots and imposing the requirement of special permission from either the Zoning Board of Appeals of City council for such museums in other areas where the majority of residences are single-family residences. King's proposal was met with vocal opposition. Mayor Lightfoot criticized the proposal, opining, "it is an overreach for what the narrow issue is that [King] has identified."

King revised her efforts in regards to historic house museums, shifting to championing and introducing to the council a revised proposal put forth by the Department of Planning and Development which did not include a ban, instead creating a requirement that such museums receive special permission in order to establish themselves in residential areas. Opposition continued. WTTW News described the proposal as being met with, "fierce opposition from cultural and preservation groups". Those that were working to create such museums at the former residences of Emmett Till and Muddy Waters raised concern that such a proposal might imperil their efforts. On March 22, 2021, Mayor Lightfoot berated the proposal as being, "highly problematic."{{cite web |last1=Cherone |first1=Heather |title=Lightfoot Tosses Cold Water on Plan to Require Special Permission for House Museums |url=https://news.wttw.com/2021/03/22/lightfoot-tosses-cold-water-plan-require-special-permission-house-museums |website=news.wttw.com |publisher=WTTW News |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=March 22, 2021 |first2=Quinn |last2=Myers}} The next day, King withdrew the proposal. {{cite web |last1=Cherone |first1=Heather |title=Alderman Withdraws Plan to Require Special Permission for House Museums After Outcry |url=https://news.wttw.com/2021/03/23/alderman-withdraws-plan-require-special-permission-house-museums-after-outcry |website=news.wttw.com |publisher=WTTW News |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=March 23, 2021}} The editorial board of the Chicago Sun Times celebrated its withdrawal, criticizing the proposal as, "a solution in search of a problem."{{cite web |title=An alderman's bid to restrict house museums is withdrawn — and should stay that way |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/3/24/22346728/aldermans-bid-restrict-house-museums-iwithdrawn-should-stay-that-way |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=en |date=24 March 2021}}

King was involved in the creation of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. King introduced an ordinance increasing the number of days organizers need to give for special events to 20 days. In February 2022, the council unanimously adopted the ordinance. King co-sponsored the Anjanette Young Ordinance, which prohibits the Chicago Police Department from executing no-knock warrants.

King was supportive of retaining the practice of aldermanic prerogative, an unwritten practice on the council that gave aldermen final approval over zoning and development within their own ward.{{cite web |last1=Posa |first1=Pranathi |title=Newly Reelected Sophia King Looks Ahead to Next Four Years |url=https://chicagomaroon.com/26748/news/sophia-king-discusses-4th-ward-economic-developmen/ |website=Chicago Maroon |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=March 11, 2019}} King also called for more equity in community development.

King opposed the prospect of the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital becoming location of the casino that Chicago had been given a state license to have operate within its borders. King made it known that she more broadly opposed the opening of a casino in Bronzeville or any other parts of the 4th ward.{{cite web |title=City hears 5 bids from 3 bidders for new casino |url=https://www.chicagojournal.com/city-hears-5-bids-from-3-bidders-for-new-casino/ |website=Chicago Journal |access-date=11 March 2024 |language=en |date=17 December 2021}} King was made to recuse herself on the vote approving construct ion of a casino by Bally's Corporation in the River West neighborhood due to the legal work that her husband's law firm had done for Bally's.

In 2021, King partnered with alderman Gilbert Villegas and Maria Hadden to co-sponsor a non-binding resolution calling for the city to create a $30 million pilot program on universal basic income. The non-binding resolution advanced through committee review, and was passed by the council in March by a vote of 30–18.{{cite web |last1=Laurence |first1=Justin |title=Aldermen Clash Over Universal Basic Income Proposal — With Some Saying Reparations Should Be Funded First |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/25/aldermen-clash-over-universal-basic-income-proposal-with-some-saying-reparations-should-be-funded-first/ |website=Block Club Chicago |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=25 March 2021}} The following year, Mayor Lightfoot launched the $31.5 million "Resilient Communities" universal basic income pilot program.{{cite web |last1=Gettinger |first1=Aaron |title=King's universal basic income pilot going into effect through mayor's budget |url=https://www.hpherald.com/news/politics/kings-universal-basic-income-pilot-going-into-effect-through-mayor-s-budget/article_78f088b4-9bfc-11ec-934f-671da9a580d6.html |website=Hyde Park Herald |language=en |date=4 March 2022}}

King co-sponsored the "Bring Chicago Home" ordinance, which proposed raising money to combat homelessness by increasing the real estate transfer tax for property transactions exceeding $1 million. Efforts to ratify the "Bring Chicago Home" proposal progressed further after she left the city council, resulting in a ballot referendum,{{cite web |last1=Neveau |first1=James |title=What is the 'Bring Chicago Home' Referendum, and is it still on your ballot? |url=https://nbcchicago.com/illinois-election-2024/what-is-the-bring-chicago-home-referendum-illinois-primary-election-2024/3376133/ |website=NBC Chicago |access-date=11 March 2024 |date=7 March 2024}} which voters rejected.{{cite web |last1=Parrella-Aureli |first1=Ariel |title=Bring Chicago Home Referendum Fails, AP Says |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/03/22/bring-chicago-home-referendum-fails/ |website=Block Club Chicago |access-date=6 April 2024 |date=23 March 2024}}

King was involved with the successful push to rename Congress Parkway for Ida B. Wells. She was also involved in the successful push to rename Lake Shore Drive for Jean Baptiste Point du Sable.{{cite web |last1=Pratt |first1=Gregory |title=Top Lightfoot ally throws support behind Brandon Johnson for mayor |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/elections/ct-chicago-mayor-race-endorsements-20230203-wrg7jsa5qzhqrich2p2jzymsoq-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=4 February 2023 |date=February 3, 2023}}

King prevented a car sharing pilot program by the company Car2go from operating in her ward, citing concerns about the ward's street parking capacity.{{cite web |last1=Greenfield |first1=John |title=Due to Alderman King's Focus on Car Parking, South Loop Bikeways May Be in Jeopardy - Streetsblog Chicago |url=https://chi.streetsblog.org/2019/01/31/due-to-alderman-kings-focus-on-car-parking-south-loop-bikeways-may-be-in-jeopardy |website=chi.streetsblog.org |publisher=StreetsBlog Chicago |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=en |date=1 February 2019}}

In August 2022, King announced that she would be running in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election,{{Cite web|date=2022-08-10|title=Alderman Sophia King announces run for Chicago mayor|url=https://abc7chicago.com/alderman-sophia-king-chicago-mayoral-election-mayor-lori-lightfoot-candidates/12114410/|access-date=2022-08-10|website=ABC 7|language=en}} providing incumbent mayor Lori Lightfoot with a female challenger in a race that had previously seen only male challengers. Lightfoot was the city's second female mayor.{{cite web |last1=Cherone |first1=Heather |title=Ald. Sophia King Announces Run for Mayor, Promising 'Collaboration' Not 'Confrontation' |url=https://news.wttw.com/2022/08/11/ald-sophia-king-announces-run-mayor-promising-collaboration-not-confrontation |website=news.wttw.com |publisher=WTTW News |access-date=21 January 2023 |language=en |date=August 11, 2022}} As a result of her campaign for mayor, King did not seek reelection to the City Council.{{cite web |last1=Golden |first1=Jamie Nesbitt |title=Meet The 7 Candidates Running To Replace Ald. Sophia King In South Side's 4th Ward |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/12/05/meet-the-7-candidates-running-to-replace-ald-sophia-king-in-south-sides-4th-ward/ |website=Block Club Chicago |access-date=21 January 2023 |language=en |date=5 December 2022}}

As a mayoral candidate, King proposed expanding the size of the Chicago police force by filling 1,600 vacancies and returning 1,000 retired officers to the force to investigate non-violent crimes.

With the exception of businessman Willie Wilson, all mayoral candidates disclosed their tax returns. Of the candidates who released their tax returns, King's household income was the highest. The King's income, however, was less than what Lightfoot had been earning prior to becoming mayor.{{cite web |last1=Pratt |first1=Gregory |title=What the tax returns of Chicago mayoral candidates show about their money — and which contender refused to release them |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2022/12/22/what-the-tax-returns-of-chicago-mayoral-candidates-show-about-their-money-and-which-contender-refused-to-release-them/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=22 December 2022}}

In the initial round of the election, King was defeated, placing eighth of nine candidates with less than 7,200 votes (1.27% of the election's overall vote), a number of votes which was even less than her vote total had been in her previous 2019 aldermanic reelection.

King endorsed Paul Vallas's candidacy in the runoff election.{{cite web |title=Local Alderwoman Sophia King of the 4th Ward, recent mayoral candidate, endorses Paul Vallas for mayor. |url=https://gazettechicago.com/2023/03/local-alderwoman-sophia-king-of-the-4th-ward-recent-mayoral-candidate-endorses-paul-vallas-for-mayor/ |website=gazettechicago.com |publisher=The Gazette (Chicago) |access-date=6 April 2023 |date=March 2023}} In a rebuke of this, nine of the Progressive Reform Caucus' eighteen members signed a letter condemning Vallas and endorsing Brandon Johnson (three other members of the caucus had like King endorsed Vallas, including fellow eliminated mayoral contender Roderick Sawyer).{{cite web |last1=Marzano |first1=Peter |title=Chicago City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus Rebukes Ald. Sophia King For Vallas Endorsement |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/progressive-reform-caucus-rebukes-sophia-king-vallas-endorsement/3106053 |website=NBC Chicago |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=28 March 2023}} Vallas was defeated by Johnson in the runoff.{{cite web |title=Brandon Johnson Defeats Paul Vallas to Become Next Mayor of Chicago: ‘It Is Time for Chicago to Come Alive’ |url=https://news.wttw.com/2023/04/04/paul-vallas-leads-brandon-johnson-tight-chicago-mayoral-race |website=WTTW |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=April 4, 2023}} King had also endorsed Prentice Butler (her chief of staff) to be elected as her successor in the election for 4th ward alderman.{{cite web |last1=Gettinger |first1=Aaron |title=Prentice Butler, 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King's Chief of Staff, Running to Succeed Her |url=https://www.hpherald.com/news/prentice-butler-4th-ward-ald-sophia-kings-chief-of-staff-running-to-succeed-her/article_dc370954-4e79-11ed-a8c8-f320e7dbca36.html |website=Hyde Park Herald |access-date=2 November 2024 |language=en |date=17 October 2022}} Butler was defeated by state representative Lamont Robinson in a runoff election.{{cite web |last1=Golden |first1=Jamie Nesbitt |title=Rep. Lamont Robinson Wins 4th Ward Race To Replace Ald. Sophia King |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/04/04/rep-lamont-robinson-wins-4th-ward-race-to-replace-ald-sophia-king |website=Block Club Chicago |date=5 April 2023}}

King has been wed to her husband, Alan King, since the 1980s. Together, they are the parents of two adult daughters. King's husband is a lawyer and a DJ in the group "Chosen Few". King herself has been the main organizer for annual summer music festivals hosted by Chosen Few.

Tax returns disclosed by King during her run for mayor showed her and her husband earning a combined adjusted gross income of $771,059 in 2021 and paying an effective tax rate of 29.6%. This was the highest income they had reported out of years between 2017 and 2021. Their 2021 income income included King's $127,464 public salary and $664,879 in royalties from her husband's law firm.

{{Election box begin no party no change

| title = 2017 Chicago City Council 4th Ward special election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Sophia King (incumbent)

|votes = 4286

|percentage = 63.77

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ebony Lucas

|votes = 1,179

|percentage = 17.54

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Gregory Livingston

|votes = 440

|percentage = 6.55

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Marcellus Moore Jr.

|votes = 410

|percentage = 6.10

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Gerald McCarthy

|votes = 406

|percentage = 6.04

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

| votes = 6721

| percentage = 100

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change

| title = 2019 Chicago City Council 4th Ward election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Sophia King (incumbent)

|votes = 9178

|percentage = 66.1

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ebony Lucas

|votes = 4708

|percentage = 33.9

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

| votes = 13,886

| percentage = 100

}}

{{election box end}}

• [https://chicago.legistar.com/PersonDetail.aspx?ID=167474&GUID=9F0CDCDE-8C1F-4D72-8EA2-84D90275B3DB&Search= Official Chicago City Council listing for Sophia King]

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Sophia}}

Category:1966 births

Category:21st-century Illinois politicians

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century African-American women politicians

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:African-American city council members in Illinois

Category:Chicago City Council members

Category:Chicago City Council members appointed by Rahm Emanuel

Category:Illinois Democrats

Category:Living people

Category:Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy alumni

Category:Politicians from Evanston, Illinois

Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni

Category:Women city councillors in Illinois