Chicago Mayor · Feb 23, 2027
Brandon
Johnson
Brandon Johnson, the incumbent, is running for mayor of Chicago in the Feb 23, 2027 election, against John Kelly, Alexi Giannoulias, Matt Brewer, Willie L. Wilson, Mike Quigley, Susana A. Mendoza, Lisa Nee, William J. Quinlan, John Kitover, Maria Pappas, Joe Holberg, Zoe X. Ma, Danielle Carter-Walters, George A. Cardenas and Jessica "Jesse" Maronto.
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The race · Mayor
- 01Matt Brewer
- 02George A. Cardenas
- 03Danielle Carter-Walters
- 04Alexi Giannoulias
- 05Joe Holberg
- 06Brandon JohnsonYou’re reading
- 07John Kelly
- 08John Kitover
- 09Zoe X. Ma
- 10Jessica "Jesse" Maronto
- 11Susana A. Mendoza
- 12Lisa Nee
- 13Maria Pappas
- 14Mike Quigley
- 15William J. Quinlan
- 16Willie L. Wilson
Background
- About
- 57th Mayor of Chicago, sworn in May 15, 2023, and a former Chicago public school teacher. Before becoming mayor, he was an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union and was elected Cook County Commissioner of the 1st District in 2018.
- Campaign website
- www.brandonforchicago.com
NBC Chicago reported on Oct. 29, 2026 that Brandon Johnson's nominating petitions could be challenged by at least one rival candidate. NBC Chicago · Oct 29, 2026
On the record: Brandon Johnson
18 sourced01City budget and taxes3 sourced positions
Proposed a corporate head tax in his 2026 budget; the City Council instead passed a budget without it (30-18, Dec 2025).
Council voteABC7 Chicago · Dec 20, 2025Link
Neither vetoed nor signed the council-passed 2026 budget, letting it take effect without his signature (Dec 2025).
Today I want to announce I will not veto the budget approved by the Chicago City Council. I will not add my signature affirming the budget as presented,”
Council voteNBC Chicago · Dec 23, 2025Link
Proposed a 2027 budget with a $25-a-month per-employee tax on businesses with more than 125 employees, expected to raise $101 million a year.
Own statementWBEZ · Oct 21, 2026Link
02Property taxes3 sourced positions
Proposed a $300 million property tax increase in his 2025 budget; the City Council rejected it (50-0, Nov 2024).
Council voteNBC Chicago · Nov 14, 2024Link
His revised 2025 budget, with no property tax increase but $165.5 million in other taxes, fines and fees, passed the City Council (27-23, Dec 2024).
Council voteChicago Sun-Times · Dec 16, 2024Link
His proposed 2027 budget freezes property taxes.
Own statementWBEZ · Oct 21, 2026Link
03Public safety and policing4 sourced positions
Vetoed a "snap curfew" ordinance letting police declare youth curfews on 30 minutes' notice; the council's override attempt failed (28-22; 34 needed, July 2025).
Council voteCBS News Chicago · Jul 16, 2025Link
His administration did not renew the ShotSpotter contract and set the gunshot-detection system to be decommissioned on September 22, 2024.
Council voteCity of Chicago · Feb 13, 2024Link
Said Chicago needs gunshot technology "that works," after declining to veto a council ordinance to revive ShotSpotter (Oct 2024).
Cities all of America have called into question the effectiveness of this particular form of technology,”
Own statementABC7 Chicago · Oct 9, 2024Link
His proposed 2027 budget would freeze hundreds of police vacancies and civilianize more than 130 police jobs.
Own statementChicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026Link
04Immigration enforcement1 sourced position
Signed an executive order barring federal agents from using city-owned or city-controlled property for civil immigration enforcement (Oct 2025).
Council voteCBS News Chicago · Oct 6, 2025Link
05Housing2 sourced positions
His Green Social Housing ordinance, creating a city nonprofit developer issuing $135 million in loans for affordable housing, passed the City Council (30-18, May 2025).
Council voteChicago Sun-Times · May 7, 2025Link
Made the Bring Chicago Home referendum, a tax increase on high-end property sales to fund homelessness programs, one of his top priorities; it failed in March 2024.
Own statementWBEZ · Mar 22, 2024Link
06Schools and CPS1 sourced position
Pressed the Chicago Board of Education to cover a $175 million pension payment owed to the city (Mar 2025).
Well, look, there's a responsibility the Board of Education has. They have to do both. They have to do both,”
Own statementABC7 Chicago · Mar 18, 2025Link
07Pensions2 sourced positions
statement from the mayor's office
His office said it raised concerns publicly and privately about the cost of the 2025 state bill boosting Chicago police and fire pensions.
Own statementFOX 32 Chicago · Sep 18, 2025Link
Tried to reduce the 2026 supplemental pension payment to $121 million; opposition Council members blocked the cut.
Own statementChicago Sun-Times · Sep 3, 2026Link
08Transit1 sourced position
Called transit funding his top priority in Springfield and praised the 2025 state transit funding and reform bill.
And this investment sets our public transportation system up to have certainly better days ahead.”
Own statementStreetsblog Chicago · Nov 7, 2025Link
09Economy and business1 sourced position
Said working people, not corporations, are being pushed out of cities, defending his 2027 tax proposals on large businesses.
There’s greater evidence of working people being pushed out of the city of Chicago than any sort of claim of the possibility of a business leaving Chicago. Working people are being forced out of cities across America. Corporations are not,”
Own statementWBEZ · Oct 21, 2026Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Brandon Johnson: their words and their votes on the same issue
Per-employee tax
In their words
Proposed a 2027 budget with a $25-a-month per-employee tax on businesses with more than 125 employees, expected to raise $101 million a year.
Oct 21, 2026 ·WBEZ · Oct 21, 2026
On the record
Proposed a corporate head tax in his 2026 budget; the City Council instead passed a budget without it (30-18, Dec 2025).
Dec 20, 2025 ·ABC7 Chicago · Dec 20, 2025
Property tax levy
In their words
His proposed 2027 budget freezes property taxes.
Oct 21, 2026 ·WBEZ · Oct 21, 2026
On the record
Proposed a $300 million property tax increase in his 2025 budget; the City Council rejected it (50-0, Nov 2024).
Nov 14, 2024 ·NBC Chicago · Nov 14, 2024
Public safety and policing
In their words
Said Chicago needs gunshot technology "that works," after declining to veto a council ordinance to revive ShotSpotter (Oct 2024).
Oct 9, 2024 ·ABC7 Chicago · Oct 9, 2024
His proposed 2027 budget would freeze hundreds of police vacancies and civilianize more than 130 police jobs.
Oct 26, 2026 ·Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 26, 2026
On the record
Vetoed a "snap curfew" ordinance letting police declare youth curfews on 30 minutes' notice; the council's override attempt failed (28-22; 34 needed, July 2025).
Jul 16, 2025 ·CBS News Chicago · Jul 16, 2025
Housing
In their words
Made the Bring Chicago Home referendum, a tax increase on high-end property sales to fund homelessness programs, one of his top priorities; it failed in March 2024.
Mar 22, 2024 ·WBEZ · Mar 22, 2024
On the record
His Green Social Housing ordinance, creating a city nonprofit developer issuing $135 million in loans for affordable housing, passed the City Council (30-18, May 2025).
May 7, 2025 ·Chicago Sun-Times · May 7, 2025
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