Progressive Brandon Johnson wins Chicago mayor’s race

CHICAGO — Brandon Johnson, a county commissioner and former teachers’ union organizer, was elected mayor of Chicago on Tuesday.

Johnson takes office next month facing challenges to bring together a city divided by race and a view on how best to quell persistent crime, a subject that loomed over the months-long campaign and set him apart from moderate rival Paul Vallas, who has called for swelling the streets with police.

With all but a handful of precincts reporting — but a sizable number of mail ballots left to count — Johnson led Vallas, 51 percent to 49 percent.

“Today, we celebrate the revival and the resurrection of the city of Chicago,” Johnson told supporters in his victory speech Tuesday night at a hotel on the city’s Near South Side. “It is time for Chicago to come alive. Come alive, Chicago.”

Johnson’s victory signals a shift to the left from the already progressive governance of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration.

Lightfoot was ousted in the first round of the election, finishing third in a field of nine candidates. Vallas, the only white candidate, came in first in the Feb. 28 election, receiving 33 percent of the vote, followed by Johnson, who is Black, at 22 percent and Lightfoot at 17 percent.

Coming out of the first round of voting ahead, Vallas led most of the polling before the runoff, but Johnson closed fast.

Vallas conceded defeat, but added in a speech to supporters: “It’s clear based on the results tonight that the city is deeply divided.” (POLITICO)