Teacher Brandon Johnson beats billionaire in Chicago mayor race

He defeats Paul Vallas in runoff between two Democrats

Brandon Johnson, a union organiser and former teacher, was elected Chicago’s mayor on Wednesday after defeating Paul Vallas in a runoff between two Democrats to take over a city grappling with crime.

Mr Johnson, a 47-year-old Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, became the 57th mayor of the third-largest US city where crime has become an issue that dominated the race after incumbent Lori Lightfoot was eliminated in February.

Mr Vallas and Mr Johnson squared off in the runoff after Ms Lightfoot, also a Democrat, finished third out of nine candidates in the previous round when no one managed to cross the 50 per cent line. She became the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose her re-election bid.

The nonpartisan race in the heavily left-leaning city was a test for Democratic messaging on policing in the US, three years after widespread protests following the police murder of George Floyd. Republicans sought to bludgeon Democrats over the issue in the 2022 midterm elections.

The contest surfaced longstanding tensions among Democrats, with Mr Johnson and his supporters blasting Mr Vallas – who was endorsed by Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the chamber’s second-ranking Democrat – as too conservative and a Republican in disguise.

Among the biggest disputes between Mr Johnson and Mr Vallas was how to address crime. Like many US cities, Chicago saw violent crime increase during the Covid-19 pandemic, hitting a 25-year high of 797 homicides in 2021, though the number decreased last year and the city has a lower murder rate than others in the Midwest, such as St Louis.

While Mr Vallas called for more police officers, Mr Johnson suggested more mental health support and opportunities for young people.

Mr Johnson also released a plan calling for $800m in new taxes, which he said would be imposed on wealthy people and businesses, while freezing property taxes. Mr Vallas, who had strong support from the business community, said the tax plan would be disastrous for Chicago‘s economy.

His victory topped a remarkable trajectory for a candidate who was little known when he entered the race. He climbed to the top of the field with organizing and financial help from the politically influential Chicago Teachers Union and high-profile endorsements from progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Mr Sanders appeared at a rally for him in the final days of the race.

It was a momentous win for progressive organizations such as the teachers union, with Mr Johnson winning the highest office of any active teachers union member in recent history, leaders say. It comes as groups such as Our Revolution, a powerful progressive advocacy organization, push to win more offices in local and state office, including in upcoming mayoral elections in Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Additional reporting from the wires