The Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates has voted to endorse Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson for mayor, giving his candidacy a long expected stamp of approval — even though he has not yet announced his campaign.
Johnson, a former teacher, has been jockeying for the progressive vote with several of the declared candidates for mayor, including incumbent Lori Lightfoot, state Rep. Kambium “Kam” Buckner, Ald. Sophia King, Ald. Roderick Sawyer and activist Ja’Mal Green. The union’s support is a powerful boost for Johnson, though it’s unclear whether other progressive unions like SEIU will join them in supporting his campaign.
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[ Who’s in, who’s out and who’s thinking about running for Chicago mayor ]
In 2015 and 2019, CTU and SEIU threw their support to Cook County commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Board President Toni Preckwinkle, respectively, in their unsuccessful campaigns. Garcia, now a congressman, is considering a run for mayor in 2023 but those efforts are potentially complicated by the teachers union supporting another candidate.
CTU also recently contributed $59,900 to Johnson’s political fund, disclosure filings show. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, appeared alongside Johnson at a news conference in August criticizing Lightfoot.
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“Look, Chicago knows what it needs,” Davis Gates said while declining at the time to state her choice for mayor. “It needs a partner. It needs an organizer. It needs someone who’s in love with humanity. We don’t have that right now.”
Johnson has touted his time as a CTU organizer. At a mayoral forum this month, he evoked the memory of the 2012 seven-day teachers’ strike and called for reigniting that passion citywide to advance his platform.
“Let’s go into every single neighborhood, and let’s bring a revival,” Johnson said.
Lightfoot and the CTU have had a contentious and at times openly hostile relationship from the start of her term. The union went on a strike again in 2019, months after she took office, and has since had several impasses with city leaders over COVID-19 safeguards for schools.
