2023 race briefing
Brandon Johnson is a former Chicago Public Schools teacher and Chicago Teachers Union organizer. He won a seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2018, defeating incumbent Richard Boykin in the District 1 Democratic primary, and was re-elected in 2022.
In the February 28, 2023 mayoral election he finished second in a nine-candidate field, which sent him to a runoff with Paul Vallas and ended Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s bid for a second term. Johnson won the April 4 runoff 52.2% to 47.8%.
He took office on May 15, 2023. His current term runs until May 2027. PolRev covered his campaigns for the county board and for mayor.