Brandon Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brandon Johnson
Johnson in 2024
57th Mayor of Chicago
Incumbent
Assumed office May 15, 2023
Deputy	Walter Burnett Jr.
Preceded by	Lori Lightfoot
Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 1st district
In office December 3, 2018 – May 15, 2023
Preceded by	Richard Boykin
Succeeded by	Tara Stamps
Personal details
Born	(1976-03-27) March 27, 1976 (age 49) Elgin, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Stacie Rencher ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	3
Education	Aurora University (BA, MA)
Signature

Brandon Johnson (born March 27, 1976) is an American politician and former teacher. He is currently the 57th mayor of Chicago, serving since 2023. Before becoming mayor, Johnson was a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 2018 to 2023. He belongs to the Democratic Party.

Johnson was first elected to the Cook County Board in 2018. He won reelection in 2022. In 2023, he was elected mayor of Chicago. He won a special runoff election against Paul Vallas, after both had moved past the first round. This meant he took over from the previous mayor, Lori Lightfoot. Johnson is seen as a progressive politician.

Early Life and Education

Johnson was born in Elgin, Illinois. He grew up there with his nine brothers and sisters. His father was a pastor and also worked at the Elgin Mental Health Center. His parents sometimes took care of foster children. When Johnson was 19, his mother passed away.

Johnson met his wife, Stacie Rencher, at a religious event. They got married when he was 22 years old.

He went to Aurora University. There, he earned two degrees. He got a bachelor's degree in youth development. He also earned a master's degree in teaching.

Early Career

Before entering politics, Johnson worked as a social studies teacher. He taught at Jenner Academy Elementary and George Westinghouse College Prep. Both schools are part of the Chicago Public Schools system.

In 2011, he became an organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union. He helped plan the 2012 Chicago teachers strike. He also helped with campaigns for the 2015 Chicago mayoral and aldermanic elections.

Cook County Commissioner (2018–2023)

In 2018, Johnson ran for the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He challenged the current commissioner, Richard Boykin. Many labor groups and progressive organizations supported him. These included the Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Locals 1 and 73. He also had the support of Toni Preckwinkle, who leads the Cook County Board.

Johnson won the primary election by a small margin. He then ran unopposed in the general election. He officially became a Cook County commissioner on December 3, 2018.

One of his main achievements was the "Just Housing Ordinance." This rule was passed in April 2019. It aimed to make housing fairer for people.

Johnson was reelected to the Cook County Board in 2022. During his time as commissioner, he often worked closely with Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

2023 Mayoral Campaign

Johnson's mayoral campaign logo

Johnson was elected the mayor of Chicago in the 2023 election. He is the third Black person to be elected mayor of the city. He is also the first mayor from Chicago's West Side since the 1930s. Johnson officially became Chicago's 57th mayor on May 15, 2023.

First Round

Johnson began thinking about running for mayor in late 2022. He received support from several progressive groups. The Chicago Teachers Union and the American Federation of Teachers were among his early supporters. He officially announced his plan to run on October 27, 2022.

His campaign focused on several key areas. He wanted more funding for Chicago Public Schools. He also proposed new ways to improve public safety. This included using non-police responses for mental health calls. He also supported a tax on high-value property sales. This tax would help fund services for people experiencing homelessness. Johnson suggested raising money through new or increased taxes. These could include taxes on airlines and large real estate deals.

Johnson was the only main candidate who did not want to hire more police officers. Instead, he suggested increasing the number of detectives. He also proposed reopening mental health centers. He wanted to invest in programs that prevent violence. These ideas aimed to address the root causes of crime.

As the election got closer, Johnson's support grew. He faced criticism from other candidates. Mayor Lightfoot and Paul Vallas were among those who challenged his ideas. By mid-February, polls showed Johnson was a strong contender. He was likely to advance to a runoff election.

In the first round of the election on February 28, Johnson came in second place. He received about 22% of the votes. This meant he would face Paul Vallas in the runoff election on April 4. Vallas had finished first with over 33% of the votes.

Runoff

After the first round, several political figures supported Johnson. These included U.S. Congressman Chuy García and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Other notable supporters were Jesse Jackson and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

Johnson alongside Paul Vallas at a runoff mayoral forum at Kenwood Academy, March 2023

Johnson criticized Vallas for his past connections to Republican groups. He argued that Chicago could not afford a mayor like Vallas. Vallas, however, stated he was a "lifelong Democrat." Johnson also claimed Vallas had harmed Chicago Public Schools' finances. Vallas, in turn, said Johnson lacked detailed plans. He also accused Johnson of wanting to reduce police funding.

Both Johnson and Vallas agreed on some points. They both supported continuing the INVEST South/West Initiative. This program helps neighborhoods on the South and West Sides. They also agreed that the city should not use public money to keep the Chicago Bears football team in Chicago. The Bears were considering moving to Arlington Heights.

On April 4, Johnson won the runoff election against Vallas. News outlets quickly announced his victory. Many described his win as an upset victory. He officially became mayor at noon on May 15, 2023.

Johnson won strongly in areas with many Black residents. He also did well in some white and Hispanic neighborhoods. He had less money for his campaign than Vallas. However, many believe that strong community organizing helped him win.

Mayor of Chicago (2023–Present)

Transition and Inauguration

Many people who helped Johnson prepare for his new role had ties to labor unions.

After his election, Mayor-elect Johnson met with Mayor Lightfoot. They discussed how to smoothly transfer power. He also met with Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker and other state leaders.

In April 2023, Chicago was chosen to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Johnson had supported the city's bid. He worked with Governor Pritzker to make Chicago the host city.

Johnson also made important staff decisions. He chose his mayoral chief of staff. He was inaugurated on May 15, 2023. On his first day, he signed four executive orders. These orders focused on public safety, helping new arrivals, and youth jobs.

"One Fair Wage"

In October 2023, the City Council passed the "One Fair Wage" rule. Johnson supported this new rule. It plans to gradually remove the lower minimum wage for tipped workers by July 1, 2028.

Housing and "Bring Chicago Home"

As mayor, Johnson has worked to make housing and business development easier. He wants to reduce complicated rules.

During his campaign, Johnson supported "Bring Chicago Home." This plan aimed to increase a tax on property sales over $1 million. The money would help fund affordable housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. In November 2023, the City Council voted to let people decide on this tax in a March 2024 election. However, the voters did not approve the measure.

In 2024, Johnson supported a large apartment building project. It would include many affordable homes. The local alderman tried to stop it, but Johnson pushed for the project to move forward.

Chicago Public Schools

In July 2023, Johnson appointed new members to the Chicago Board of Education. He named Jianan Shi as the new board president.

In 2024, the city was negotiating a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union. This is Johnson's former employer. Johnson suggested the school district take out a new loan to cover costs. These costs were related to the union's demands for pensions and contracts. However, school district leaders and the school board were concerned about taking on more debt.

This led to disagreements between Johnson and the school district's CEO, Pedro Martinez. Eventually, the entire school board, including President Jianan Shi, resigned. In early October, 41 out of 50 City Council members criticized Johnson's quick changes to the board. This happened just weeks before a school board election. Days later, Johnson appointed new members to the board.

Johnson appointed Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson as the new board president. However, some of his past online statements caused controversy. Governor Pritzker and many City Council members expressed concern. The mayor initially defended him. But more controversial posts came to light. The mayor then asked for his resignation, which he gave. On December 11, Sean Harden was appointed as the new board president. On December 20, the new school board voted to remove Pedro Martinez from his position.

Other Matters

In late 2023, Johnson announced plans to build temporary housing. This housing would help new arrivals, mainly from Venezuela, on the Southwest Side. He also worked with churches to house about 350 people.

On January 31, 2024, Johnson supported a resolution. This resolution called for peace in a conflict zone.

On February 20, 2024, Mayor Johnson announced lawsuits against major oil and gas companies. He accused them of misleading the public about climate change. The city is seeking money for damages it has suffered due to climate change.

Approval Ratings

As of October 29, 2024, Brandon Johnson has an approval rating of 14%.

Personal Life

Johnson lives in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. He lives there with his wife, Stacie, and their three children.

In March 2023, it was reported that Johnson owed the city money. This included unpaid water bills and traffic tickets. However, all his debts were paid in full by March 31, 2023.

Electoral History

Cook County Board of Commissioners

2018

2022

Mayor of Chicago