By: Ashmar Mandou

The City of Chicago has spoken. Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson won the Mayoral runoff on Tuesday and will be Chicago’s next Mayor. Johnson, who received support from the Chicago Teachers Union and several Union organizations, among others, is a former teacher whose campaigned heavily focused on addressing economic disparities and improving public school education. Johnson defeated fellow Democrat Paul Vallas, a former CEOP of the Chicago Public Schools, by gaining 51 percent of the votes on Tuesday. In his victory speech, Johnson immediately gave a nod to the more than 270,000 people who did not support him. “To the Chicagoans who did not vote for me,” Johnson said. “I care about you, I value you and I want to hear from you. I want to work with you. And I’ll be the mayor for you too.”

Johnson ran on a platform of taxing the wealthy to boost citywide services and investing in neighborhoods and schools across the city. He walked back past comments about slashing funding to police departments, saying that he wanted to bolster the ranks of detectives but that he also wanted to invest in mental health response services. “Let’s take this bold progressive movement around these United States of America. Chicago, we can show the country, we can show the world what’s possible when we stand on our values,” he added. “We don’t have to choose between toughness and compassion, between the care of our neighbors and keeping our people safe. If tonight is proof of anything, it is proof that those old false choices do not serve this city longer.” A few of Johnson’s supporters shared congratulatory messages after his win.

“It is truly an historic day for Chicago! For the first time, a public school teacher and union organizer has been elected to lead our proud, working class city. Voters recognized that Brandon Johnson was the clear choice, and every Chicagoan will be better off with him at the helm.” –Illinois Federation of Teachers

“Personal PAC is proud to have endorsed Brandon Johnson for mayor, and we are committed to working closely with his administration to ensure abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible to all in Chicago,” said Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC. “Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, Chicago under Mayor Lightfoot has stood firmly as an oasis for abortion access in the Midwest, and we will continue to work to fortify that stronghold in partnership with Mayor-elect Johnson and our aldermanic allies in the months and years ahead.” –Personal PAC

“Today, Chicago has spoken. Chicago has said yes to hope; yes to investment in people; yes to housing the unhoused, and yes to supporting young people with fully-funded schools. It is a new day in our city.” –Chicago Teachers Union

“I congratulate Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on his hard-fought runoff victory this evening. It is time for all of us as Chicagoans, regardless of our zip code or neighborhood, our race or ethnicity, the creator we worship, or who we love, to come together and recommit ourselves to uniting around our shared present and future.” –Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot