Brandon Johnson will be Chicago’s next mayor
Johnson, who was backed heavily by the teachers unions, beat former public schools CEO Paul Vallas in a narrow race.

Brandon Johnson was elected mayor of Chicago on April 4, 2023. Read coverage of the election from WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times here.
Johnson, who was backed heavily by the teachers unions, beat former public schools CEO Paul Vallas in a narrow race.
Sizeable runoff wins in majority-Black precincts allowed Johnson to erase a 60,000-plus vote deficit from the February general election.
In his first visit to the mayor’s office since being elected Tuesday, Johnson said he was struck by “what this moment means for people around the city, who want the city to be united.”
Incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces eight challengers. The top two vote-getters will go to a runoff election if nobody wins more than 50%.
As both Chicago mayoral candidates traded barbs again at a WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times/UofC forum, we fact checked repeated claims and criticisms they’ve lobbed.
The middle child of 10 and a pastor for a father, Johnson chose public service instead of church leadership, and his faith guides that path still.
With more than a dozen new councilmembers, the power of the council will shift.
In his first visit to the mayor’s office since being elected Tuesday, Johnson said he was struck by “what this moment means for people around the city, who want the city to be united.”
A replacement for the mayor-elect’s seat on the board will be chosen by a group of elected Democratic committeemen. The new commissioner would serve a little over two years.
Johnson’s first priorities include doubling the number of youth the city hires and addressing mental health issues in an effort to curb violence.
What will the incoming mayor do about high crime rates and low test scores? Here is what Brandon Johnson said on the campaign trail.
Johnson, who was backed heavily by the teachers unions, beat former public schools CEO Paul Vallas in a narrow race.
The new alderpersons will be working with Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to potentially advance or stall his priorities.
Brandon Johnson faces Paul Vallas. The two Democratic candidates for Chicago mayor have very different plans for the city.
Tomorrow is Election Day. Over the weekend, the mayoral candidates focused largely on African American wards where Lightfoot performed well in the general election.
As both Chicago mayoral candidates traded barbs again at a WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times/UofC forum, we fact checked repeated claims and criticisms they’ve lobbed.