Progressive Democrat Brandon Johnson Wins Chicago Mayoral Race, Replaces Lori Lightfoot

Progressive Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson defeated his opponent, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, in Chicago’s mayoral race Tuesday.

QUICK FACTS:
  • Radical leftist Brandon Johnson, the Cook County Commissioner, defeated his moderate opponent Paul Vallas in Chicago’s mayoral race this week, replacing former mayor Lori Lightfoot.
  • Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Vallas was backed by the police union and endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
  • Vallas led Johnson for most of the night until around 8 p.m., when Johnson began overtaking the race.
  • Johnson ran his campaign attacking Vallas, ignoring many of the city’s crime issues, and, according to the Chicago Tribune, during the summer of 2020, the former commissioner introduced a resolution to “redirect funds from policing and incarceration to public services not administered by law enforcement.”
  • “Let’s take this bold progressive movement around these United States of America,” Johnson said in a victory speech. “Chicago, we can show the country, we can show the world what’s possible when we stand on our values.”
  • Johnson was endorsed during his campaign by self-proclaimed socialists, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
AUTHOR TIM KENNEDY ON CHICAGO ELECTING PROGRESSIVE BRANDON JOHNSON:

“Definition of insanity displayed in Chicago, as if former Mayor Lightfoot wasn’t radical enough. Everyone of her policies has failed the people of Chicago. Homicide is up, violent crimes are up, homelessness is up, but let’s vote for more of the same,” Kennedy said.

BACKGROUND:
  • Earlier last month, Lightfoot lost her bid for re-election, in what was called a resounding defeat, amid widespread dissatisfaction from voters, over her handling of crime.
  • In October 2022, American Faith reported that the city of Chicago had experienced a 37% increase in violent crime in just one year.
  • Under Lightfoot’s leadership, motor vehicle thefts were up 83%, theft was up 60%, burglary was up 21%, and robbery was up 17%, according to statistics collected by the Chicago Police Department.
  • In a September 2022 speech, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski stated that the city was in “crisis.”
  • “We have violent crime that’s happening in our restaurants … we’re seeing homelessness issues in our restaurants. We’re having drug overdoses that are happening in our restaurants,” Kempczinski stated.

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