Chicago had her election today. And, it was known from the start that Paul Vallas was going to get one of the two run-off spots, being endorsed by the Republican party, and being the only white person on the ballot. It is what it is. Vallas walked away with a surprising 34% of the vote.
Brandon Johnson came in second at 20%, with the remaining 7 candidates ranging from 0.43% to 16.8% (to our incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot).
Of the non-Vallas vote, the only conservative (everyone is a Democrat), Willie Wilson, came in fifth at 9.5% of the vote.
By my math, that is some 44% to Vallas and 56% to Johnson; but, of course, the conservatives might pull out another percentage or two, and, anything can happen between now and the run-off election on April 4.
In the meantime, there’s a lot to bespeak Brandon Johnson to the Lefty community, particularly his commitment to re-opening shuttered mental health facilities, and a living wage for gig workers, particularly in the burgeoning rideshare and delivery services.
He was the candidate endorsed by the Chicago Teachers’ Union, SEIU, and the Working Families Party. And Ultrageek.