On the night when Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson beat out twelve opponents to advance to a runoff against Paul Vallas, he stood on the podium with his arms outstretched and said, “Here’s Brandon!” To those of us who were around in 1983 when then Congressman Harold Washington famously said, “Here’s Harold,” Brandon’s words were reminiscent of that day and that victory.
Then the work began. Commissioner Johnson was outspent almost two to one by Paul Vallas, who was supported by millionaires like John Catanzara, President of the FOP, and billionaires like Citadel founder and gun-supplier, Ken Griffin, and former United States Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump, Elizabeth “Betsy” DeVos. Some thought it would be a clearly Black vs. white race, but they soon learned that would not be the case when powerful Black politicians like former Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White and former Illinois Senate President, Emil Jones endorsed Vallas. They weren’t the only Blacks who came out to support Paul Vallas, whose controversial term as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools under Mayor Richard Daley still angered some, while others, like Joyce Kenner, former Principal of Whitney Young High School, praised him mightily.
Losing Black candidates, including Ja Mahl Green, 4th Ward Alderperson, Sophia King, Philanthropist, Willie Wilson and former Sixth Ward Alderman, Roderick Sawyer stood solidly behind Vallas, as did over half a dozen Black Alderpersons, including David Moore (17th), Michelle Harris (8th), Emma Mitts (37th), Walter Burnett (27th) Anthony Beale (9th) and Derrick Carter (18th). Even Congressman Bobby Rush jumped on the Vallas bandwagon.
In fact, State Senator Kam Buckner, and Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, were the only losing candidates to endorse and support Brandon Johnson.
On this very day, fifty-five years ago, Dr. King stood on a balcony. But you all know, it’s very clear that one bullet can’t stop a dream. Tonight, is the beginning of a Chicago that truly invests in all of its people. . . We will not allow the politics of old to turn us around. . .
However, where Brandon Johnson’s campaign may have been short on cash, it was rich in support from the Chicago Teacher’s Union, the SEIU, and the United Working Families. These unions are fueled by young, enthusiastic, and active people who texted, called, and knocked on over 500,000 doors. That, along with endorsements by
progressives such as Congressman Jonathan Jackson, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr, Congressman Danny K. Davis, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, and others, seemed to have given him just the edge he needed. On April 4, 2023, Brandon Johnson stood on the stage of the Grand Horizon Ballroom in the Marriott Marquis and called out to the huge crowd of joyful supporters, “Tonight is the gateway to a new future for our city.”
When Harold Washington became the first Black mayor of Chicago, he was sixty-one years old. Brandon Johnson just made forty-seven, Unlike Mayor Washington was when he found himself on the way to the fifth floor, Johnson isn’t what one would call a “seasoned politician.” This was refreshingly apparent when he spoke at a recent Kenwood-Oakland Community Organizations (KOCO) Convention. After speaking for about fifteen minutes about his hopes for a better, stronger Chicago, Mayor-elect Johnson said, “I’m not going to lie. My wife and I are still tripping … I’m the freaking Mayor of the City of Chicago!” Yes, you are Mr. Mayor, and a lot of your supporters have your back.
On Friday, May 12, about two hundred people gathered at St. Joseph’s Church in Chatham, where newly elected Sixth Ward Alderman, William Hall is the pastor. But this wasn’t Alderman Hall’s meeting. Members of the United Working Families called this meeting. Their message was: “We elected Brandon Johnson Mayor of Chicago, but we know the work to win the resources and policy changes our communities need doesn’t stop now. Can you join us Friday, May 12th at St. James Church to debrief the election and to learn how to stay involved in the issue fights for our communities?” The people came, enthusiastically, representing Chatham, Park Manor, Woodlawn, Greater Grand Crossing, West Chesterfield, Bronzeville and South Shore. Issues were discussed, the top ones being water bills, street safety, police reform, youth, food deserts and crime. Committees were formed. People left vowing to stay involved and get their families and neighbors involved.
Congressman Jonathan Jackson was also at the KOCO meeting. Both he and Mayor Johnson were keynote speakers. Their speeches were encouraging, motivating, and inspiring, and one thing stood out as you listened to their speeches – here were two men, the Congressman of the First District of Chicago which encompasses the entire south side of Chicago and then some, and the Mayor of the City of Chicago and they were on the same page! They were not only speaking about the same issues, but they were also espousing the same solutions. That is huge!! And as they famously say in late night infomercials – but wait, there’s more. There’s Illinois State Senator Robert Peters of the 13th District, the district that encompasses Chicago’s East Side, Hyde Park, South Shore and Streeterville.
Commissioner Johnson was outspent almost two to one by Paul Vallas, who was supported by millionaires like John Catanzara, President of the FOP, and billionaires like Citadel founder and gun-supplier, Ken Griffin…
On the Saturday after Mayor Johnson was elected, Senator Peters spoke at PUSH, not only about his remarkably close relationship with our new mayor, but that he, too, is on that same page with Mayor Brandon Johnson and Congressman Jonathan Jackson.
Take, for instance, the recent incident in Chicago’s loop when a group of teenagers and young adults converged on downtown Chicago, and some violence was committed. Mayor Johnson said, “It is unacceptable and has no place in Chicago, but it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities.”
Senator Peters addressed the same incident in this way, “I don’t want anybody to ever get hurt. I have a district where there’s a lot of violence, particularly in a lot of working-class areas. And I think everybody deserves to have their fair share of safety and comfort and I think we seem to be caught up responding to the same questions in relatively the same way. And I think a lot of people are sick and tired of it.
“And we have to look at it from both the historical context and the present context about what are we going to do to change things. If a kid has had their school closed, or healthcare institution closed, or they’ve had their housing foreclosed or they’ve been evicted,
or they’re living cooped up in housing too small, mismanaged, then we have to do whatever we can to change that. And it’s clear that we need to push back on what has been a terrible, terrible status quo for people.”
So, with the powerful elected officials who represent the City of Chicago, the U.S. Congress, the Illinois State working together, and with community people coming together to support them, we should feel encouraged about the future of Chicago.
If you need more encouragement, then I leave you with these excerpts from his victory speech:
“The Civil Rights Movement and the labor rights movement have finally collided. We are experiencing the very dream of the greatest man who ever walked the earth. On this very day, fifty-five years ago, Dr. King stood on a balcony. But you all know, it’s very clear that one bullet can’t stop a dream. Tonight, is the beginning of a Chicago that truly invests in all of its people. . . We will not allow the politics of old to turn us around. . . . We don’t have to choose between rich and poor, old, and young. We don’t have to choose between toughness and compassion. If tonight is proof of anything, it’s that false choices don’t serve Chicago any longer.”
We’ve got a new Mayor, Chicago … and it’s a brand-new day!
