Chicago mayor bets progressives will turn out for him in announcing reelection bid

Por Shia Kapos — POLITICO – TOP Stories

Mayor Brandon Johnson is launching his reelection campaign Sunday despite daunting approval ratings, betting the progressive coalition that helped elect him in 2023 is stronger now than it was four years ago.

The mayor confirmed his plans to POLITICO ahead of the announcement at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center on the city’s South Side.He plans to argue that his administration has followed through on policies he pitched when he first ran for office and that there is still unfinished business ahead.

“I made a promise four years ago that I would work every day to build the safest, most affordable big city in America by investing in people, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Johnson said, pointing to investments in affordable housing, infrastructure and mental health clinics, along with declining crime rates.

But the mayor also faces high disapproval ratings, with support for a prospective reelection bid at just 13.6 percent, according to a recent University of Chicago Mansueto Institute poll. He’ll also have to take on a field of strong Democratic challengers, including Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Rep. Mike Quigley and state Comptroller Susana Mendoza – all of whom tack closer to the ideological center than Johnson.

Along with the ideological fight comes jockeying for cash: Giannoulias, backed by a coalition of labor unions and prominent business and civic leaders, begins the race with a commanding financial advantage of nearly $22 million in campaign funds, whereas Johnson’s political operation has less than $1 million on hand, according to the most recent campaign filings.

For Johnson, success may hinge on whether progressive activists can capitalize on renewed energy for their movement, including by likely nabbing financial backing from the powerful Chicago Teachers Union, which helped propel him into office in 2023. (The CTU told POLITICO the endorsement process hasn’t yet begun.)

Chicago Democratic Socialists of America Co-chair Sean Duffy said recent victories by progressive and socialist candidates have fueled organizing efforts and created momentum that could benefit Johnson.

“People are tired of politicians who don’t deliver and who side with corporations over working-class people,” Duffy said. “There’s a palpable energy around candidates and organizations that are offering a real alternative.” Still, Duffy noted that Johnson now faces the challenges that come with being the incumbent rather than the insurgent candidate as he was in 2023.

Though Johnson is not a member of the DSA, which has made strides with several shocking upsets in primaries across the nation this year, he is widely seen as an ally. His supporters point to recent wins by far-left candidates around the country as evidence that progressive voters could carry him through the election in February and the potential runoff in April.

“It’s clear that the progressive energy that we ignited back in 2023 has impacted the rest of the country,” Johnson said. “People are tired of corporate greed at the expense of everyday people.”

Johnson’s first term has been defined by moments marked by mixed public support, such as his handling of the city’s response to federal immigration enforcement actions, and challenges, like his repeated battles with City Council as the city faces a projected budget gap of $882 million in 2027.

But while Giannoulias has dinged Johnson for his fights with aldermen and attempted to position himself as a coalition-builder, the mayor doesn’t shy away from the conflicts in pursuit of his policy goals.

“If we’re fighting over whether we should raise wages for working people or whether corporations should pay more, those are fights worth having,” he said. “The city deserves a fighter who’s going to prioritize working people.”

That message mirrors the priorities of Chicago’s DSA chapter, which says its membership has grown to more than 3,200, including roughly 1,000 new members over the past year.

Earlier this year, the group adopted a strategy centered on what Duffy describes as a choice between “tax the rich or austerity.”

The local DSA chapter has not endorsed Johnson – or anyone else – in the mayor’s race, instead concentrating on City Council contests, where leaders believe they can have the most immediate impact. The chapter has already endorsed six council candidates and plans another round of endorsements later this fall.

The goal, Duffy said, is to elect aldermen who support policies such as stronger tenant protections, public financing of elections and higher taxes on wealthy residents and large corporations to help fund city services.

That effort could help Johnson score more policy wins if he wins a second term. With 50 aldermen on the council, a mayor needs 26 votes to move legislation. Johnson has struggled at times to build that majority, most notably during bruising budget battles that saw aldermen reject his proposal and advance their own version.

“If I’m Brandon Johnson, I’m thinking about ‘How do I get to a strong progressive majority?’” Duffy said.

Whether that energy is enough to overcome Johnson’s political headwinds remains to be seen. But as he begins his reelection campaign, the mayor is making clear that he has no plans to change course.

“If I don’t have that fight, then what’s the whole point of me being here?” Johnson asked.

Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories