Chicago mayoral race: Johnson will be mayor 'for all the people' after defeating Vallas in runoff

Rachel Schilke

April 05, 11:54 AM April 05, 11:58 AM

Brandon Johnson will be Chicago's new mayor after voters selected him over centrist Paul Vallas on Tuesday, ushering in a wave of progressive policies for the city that he says will be for "all the people."

Johnson defeated Vallas, 51.42% to 48.58%. He will become the fourth black mayor of Chicago, taking over the mantle from Lori Lightfoot, who was ousted during the Feb. 28 general election. Lightfoot was elected the city's first black female mayor in 2019.

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Johnson said during his victory speech that he wanted to work with and hear from all people, including those who did not vote for him.

"I'll be the mayor for you, too. Because this campaign has always been about building a better, stronger, safer Chicago, for all the people of Chicago," he said.

Johnson also thanked all of his endorsements, including the Chicago Teachers Union, which endorsed him and, along with affiliates, provided millions of dollars to his campaign.

"Chicago, tonight is just the beginning," he noted. "With our voices and our votes, we have ushered in a new chapter in the history of our city."

"Tonight is a gateway to a new future for our city," he continued. "A city that's truly safer for everyone by investing in what actually works to prevent crime."

Johnson ran on a more progressive campaign platform than Vallas, supporting comprehensive reform within the criminal justice system. He plans to focus on education, mental health, youth employment, and creating affordable housing, along with promoting detectives to combat the city's rising crime rates.

The win is significant for the Chicago Teachers Union, which has spent over a decade attempting to break into citywide politics and advocate on behalf of the city's children, particularly for increased mental health support. Johnson's campaign benefited heavily from the educational movement created in opposition to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel's decision to close half of the city's public mental health clinics and 50 schools across Chicago.

Stacy Davis Gates, the Chicago Teachers Union's president, spoke at Johnson's victory rally, praising voters for choosing "love and unity."

"Tonight, Chicago chose hope over fear. Tonight, you chose a city where everyone gets a seat. Tonight, you chose a city where there are charter and public schools," Davis Gates said, pointing to Vallas's support of charter schools. "You chose a city where teachers and cops can live in the same neighborhood."

Citywide voter turnout hit 35.19% in the runoff election with a total of 558,547 ballots cast, including mail-in and early voting ballots. It hit just below turnout for the general election, which ended with 36% voter turnout.

The largest voting age demographic was voters aged 55-64, placing 97,708 ballots or 18.42% of ballots cast. The lowest numbers came from young voters aged 18-24, placing 20,989 ballots or 3.96% of ballots cast.

Another 91,838 mail-in ballots have yet to be returned, Chicago Board of Elections Public Information Director Max Bever told the Washington Examiner, but he expected only 45,000 to be valid for counting. The elections board will not likely call the results until around April 20, Bever said.

Vallas conceded to Johnson on Tuesday night, saying that it was clear from the results the city was "deeply divided."

"Even though, of course, we believe every vote should be counted, I called Brandon Johnson and told him that I absolutely expect him to be the next mayor of Chicago," Vallas said during his concession speech.

Vallas ran a more conservative campaign despite calling himself a "lifelong Democrat." While he offered appealing views on stricter policing and bringing former officers back to rejoin the police force, it proved difficult for him to overcome criticism relating to his endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police. The union's president has been severely scrutinized for his comments on the COVID-19 pandemic and his support of politicians such as former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

He also received backlash from opponents and critics who blasted him for stressing the importance of standardized test scores. He was frequently asked to defend the way he dealt with the Chicago Public Schools' pension payments and expanding for school privatization, as well as his work in New Orleans and Philadelphia.

"The only pathway forward in our city is together. The solutions we adopt and implement must work for all Chicagoans," Vallas said.

"It's time for all Chicagoans to put aside their differences and to work together to support the daunting work ahead for Chicago's next mayor," he continued.

Lightfoot released a statement on Tuesday night offering support to Johnson as he steps into the mayor's office. She had not endorsed either candidate but said in her concession speech in February she had congratulated both of them on their wins.

“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. My entire team and I stand ready to collaborate throughout the transition period," Lightfoot said.

WATCH: Jussie Smollett’s hired ‘attackers’ sorry for role in hate crime hoax

Heather Hamilton

March 17, 10:19 AM March 17, 10:19 AM

Brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo said they pretended to attack Empire star Jussie Smollett but never expected the phony homophobic hate crime to gain the widespread attention that it has.

“I want to apologize to everyone in the audience, the country, and anyone who might have been affected by this directly. When we were asked to partake in this, we really didn’t foresee the ramifications of what something like this could do to the country,” Olabinjo told Hannity. “We allowed our ambition to cloud our judgment.”

JUSSIE SMOLLETT APPEALS HATE CRIME HOAX CONVICTION

Olabinjo added that they agreed to participate because Smollett promised to help further their careers.

“Jussie was in a position where he could help us because, in the acting world, it’s who you know, not what you know,” Abimbola said. “So us helping him out would have helped us.”

Smollett is maintaining his innocence concerning lies made to police over the staged hate crime in 2019, saying, “If I had done this, I’d be a piece of s***.”

The disgraced actor was released in March 2022 on bond after spending only six of his original 150-day sentence in jail pending an appeal of his guilty verdict.

Earlier this month, Smollett filed his appeal, alleging that the “prosecutorial misconduct” in his case was “clear and egregious.”

The Osundairo brothers explained how they carried out the planned attack in a new Fox Nation docuseries Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax.

Bernie Sanders endorses Brandon Johnson in Chicago mayoral race

Ryan King

March 16, 05:30 PM March 16, 05:30 PM

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) waded into the contentious Democratic race for Chicago mayor, endorsing progressive Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson.

Sanders lavished praise on Johnson for being a "champion for working families" and backing initiatives for social services by ramping up taxes on the rich. Johnson has taken more progressive positions on myriad issues relative to his foe, Paul Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

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"He is not afraid to stand up for strong unions and make big corporations and the rich pay their fair share to invest in affordable housing, quality health care, better schools, and good jobs," Sanders said in a statement. "Brandon understands the struggles of working people, and is prepared to address them, and that is why I am proud to endorse his campaign for mayor of the city of Chicago."

The Chicago contest garnered national attention after incumbent Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost reelection, the first incumbent to do so since 1989. She had been under fire for high levels of crime and homelessness and her response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson welcomed Sanders's backing. He was recently endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) last week.

"I’m honored to have the support of Senator @BernieSanders in this campaign. Our movement is about fighting for working people, and that is what Sen. Sanders has done his entire life. Together, we will deliver the change we need to build a better, safer Chicago," Johnson tweeted.

Polls have pegged a tight race between the two, who advanced to a runoff after the Feb. 28 election. One recent poll conducted by Victory Research found Vallas edging out Johnson 44.9% to 39.1%.

Johnson has lurched to the left on public safety compared to Vallas, who has positioned himself as the law and order candidate. Vallas is backed by the Fraternal Order of Police and has rankled progressives over his support for school choice.

The pair are slated to face off in the April 4 mayoral runoff.

5-month-outdated female fatally shot in Chicago

Daniel Chaitin

June 26, 10:11 AM June 26, 10:11 AM

A 5-month-aged woman was fatally shot in the head Friday evening in Chicago's South Shore community, according to authorities. She is a single of the youngest victims of gun violence in the Windy Metropolis.

The infant, recognized as Cecilia Thomas, was sitting in the rear of a automobile when yet another auto pulled up and opened fire in the early evening, Chicago police claimed.

Thomas was taken to a medical center, in which she was declared lifeless, for every officers. The Cook County Healthcare Examiner's Office environment reported Thomas was shot in the head. Natalia Derevyanny, a spokeswoman for the Prepare dinner County Medical Examiner's Business, disclosed Thomas would have turned 6 months aged in four days, in accordance to the .

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No a person was in custody, the Sunshine-Situations Media Wire claimed on Saturday, but spot detectives are investigating.

"I spoke with this mother. Yes, she's really distraught," mentioned disaster responder Andrew Holmes, according to the report. "That's a five month old little one. 9 months she carried that newborn, nourished that baby. And it acquire a damn idiot to discharge that weapon and acquire baby's lifetime."

The suspect car is probably a pink Chrysler, in accordance to Holmes, for every FOX 32.

A 41-12 months-previous gentleman in a different car who suffered a gunshot wound around an eye drove himself to a healthcare facility and is in very good condition, Chicago law enforcement explained.

The Chicago Police Section recorded 282 homicides this 12 months as of June 19, for each WHD, down from 316 at that time last year.

Suspect in custody soon after Illinois WeatherTech shooting that remaining one dead, two hurt

Misty Severi

June 25, 02:49 PM June 25, 02:50 PM

A suspect is in custody right after a single particular person was killed and two had been wounded in the course of a capturing in a city in Illinois.

The man or woman suspected of capturing a few individuals at a WeatherTech facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois, is in custody as of Saturday, police officials confirmed to the Washington Examiner. No motive has been launched for the capturing, which remaining a person person lifeless, a different critically wounded, and a 3rd hurt.

Teen KILLED, DC Law enforcement OFFICER Amid Individuals SHOT AT JUNETEENTH Party

All three victims ended up workers at the WeatherTech facility, police verified, introducing no clients or members of the public have been existing. WeatherTech, headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, is a producing organization that generates automotive solutions.

Police were known as to the scene at 6:25 a.m. on Saturday following obtaining word that an individual had been shot, but the shooter experienced currently fled the scene, officials explained. A suspect was captured a few hrs afterwards and taken into custody at around 9:25 a.m., police added.

No details on the suspect or the victims has been produced so significantly.

Chicago has viewed a 34% yr-to-date rise in prison issues as opposed to June 2021, in accordance to the Chicago Police Section.