Brandon Johnson, a Progressive, Wins Chicago Mayoral Runoff, Beating Moderate Paul Vallas

Brandon Johnson, a progressive Democrat, has been elected as the 57th mayor of Chicago, according to The Associated Press. Paul Vallas, a moderate Democrat, lost to Johnson. Johnson will be succeeding Democrat Lori Lightfoot, who had faced criticism over issues such as public safety and COVID-19 management.

Education and public safety were the two biggest issues in the election. Johnson ran on a pro-public school platform and was supported by the Chicago Teachers Union while Vallas endorsed a pro-school choice agenda. Despite underperforming test scores and graduation rates in Chicago, Johnson has promised to resist cutting city funding to schools.

Johnson was criticized by Vallas for his past support for the “Defund the Police” movement. Although Johnson called it a “real political goal” in 2020, he has distanced himself from the cause and clarified that it was not his personal stance.