Chicago Elects Progressive Brandon Johnson As Mayor

Chicago voters elected progressive Democrat Brandon Johnson, a former county commissioner and teachers’ union organizer, as the next mayor. Johnson will replace Mayor Lori Lightfoot after the Democrat lost in a March primary.

Johnson, 47, defeated another Democratic opponent, Paul Vallas, 69, who leaned heavily into a tough-on-crime narrative.

Chicago, the country’s third most populous city, continues to rebuild following a pandemic downturn. The city continues to struggle with building vacancies and dwindling public transit ridership. The Police Department hasn’t named a chief since David Brown resigned from the post in mid-March.

“Chicago is a union town,” Johnson said during his victory speech on Tuesday night. “Now Chicago will begin to work for its people, all the people.”

Johnson frequently clashed with the past two mayors over Teacher’s Union battles. He campaigned on tax reforms and investments in youth employment programs and mental health treatment.

Johnson is set to replace Lightfoot in May. Lightfoot’s single term was historic for the city. She was the first black woman and the first openly lesbian mayor of Chicago.