Topline
Brandon Johnson was elected as Chicago’s next mayor on Tuesday, beating moderate rival Paul Vallas in a major victory for progressives after a contentious runoff race saw two Democratic candidates from either end of the party’s ideological spectrum vying to lead America’s second city.
Brandon Johnson has been elected as the next mayor of Chicago.
Key Facts
The Associated Press called the race for Johnson on Tuesday night and Vallas conceded before 10 p.m.
With all precincts reporting, Johnson led Vallas 51.4% to 48.6%, according to data compiled by the Associated Press, a difference of around 16,000 votes.
In his victory speech, Johnson thanked supporters and said Chicago had chosen “hope over fear.”
Johnson, whose progressive campaign focused on equity and addressing the root causes of crime, said his election signals the start of a Chicago that “truly invests in all of its people.”
Tackling crime was a central theme of the contest and Vallas, who was backed by firefighters and police unions, clashed with Johnson’s progressive stance, vowing to hire hundreds more police officers.
In his concession speech, Vallas said the result clearly illustrates the “city is deeply divided,” stressing that “public safety is a fundamental right.”
What To Watch For
Johnson is now mayor-elect and will take office in May. He will become Chicago’s 57th mayor and is succeeding Lori Lightfoot. Lightfoot, who was the first Black female and first out gay person to hold the position, was heavily criticized for her handling of crime and the Covid-19 pandemic. She lost her reelection bid for a second term last month. In a statement, Lightfoot congratulated Johnson and said her administration will work with his team during the transition.
Key Background
The close election divided Chicago and positioned Democrats at either end of the party’s political spectrum against one another. Public safety and crime dominated the race, particularly given the rise in crime during the Covid pandemic, with Vallas’ moderate vow of bolstering police ranks clashing with Johnson’s more progressive approach of investing in addressing the root causes like mental health and his past comments on defunding the police. Johnson, a Cook County commissioner, was endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union and was endorsed by high-profile politicians including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Vallas, a former Chicago schools CEO, was backed by the police union and campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform.
Further Reading
Brandon Johnson Elected Chicago Mayor, Turning Back Tough-on-Crime Opponent (NYT)
Brandon Johnson wins Chicago mayor election; Paul Vallas concedes (Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection As Two Challengers Advance To Runoff (Forbes)
Chicago mayoral runoff tests Democrats’ racial and ideological divides (CNN)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/04/05/progressive-brandon-johnson-elected-as-chicago-mayor-beating-paul-vallas-in-crime-focused-race/