Mayoral candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas are collecting endorsements from political figures as the election nears a week away.
Now that early voting has opened in all 50 wards, the race is tight between the Cook County Committee member and Chicago Public School CEO. Both candidates are vying for the support of other political figures from Chicago, Illinois, or all over the United States.
Endorsements aren’t a guarantee that a candidate will win. Nonetheless they can inspire voters who may not know who to vote for if they like or respect the endorser.
Vallas and Johnson alike have gained endorsements from major political players all over the United States. The two candidates continue to collect more each day.
Brandon Johnson Endorsements
Brandon Johnson, as Chicago’s progressive mayoral candidate, has gained endorsements from liberal political figures and unions alike. Recently he was endorsed by Starbucks Workers United Illinois. This endorsement came on the same day as a city-wide strike for better working conditions for their baristas.
As a former teacher, Johnson has also gotten endorsements from the Chicago Teachers Union. Moreover, he has also received support from United Working Families, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
As far as nationwide endorsements go, Johnson has secured endorsements from Illinois Congressman Danny Davis, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. A huge endorsement received by Johnson was from Vermont Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
“He is not afraid to stand up for strong unions and make big corporations and the rich pay their fair share to invest in affordable housing, quality health care, better schools and good jobs.” said Sanders of Brandon Johnson in a press release.
Sanders intends to hold a rally at UIC on March 30 to garner youth support for Johnson, with rapper Vic Mensa in attendance.
Furthermore, he has received endorsements from the Mayor of Denver, CO. and Little Rock, AR, Michael B. Hancock and Frank Scott Jr., respectively.
Finally, Johnson has been endorsed by former mayoral candidates Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia and Kam Buckner, as well as civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Paul Vallas Endorsements
Current polling frontrunner Paul Vallas has received endorsements from many unions and city council members as this race has progressed.
Vallas came into the runoff election with endorsements from City Council members Brendan Reilly and Brian Hopkins, as well as Far Northwest Side Ald. Anthony Napolitano and Lakeview Ald. Tom Tunney. Furthermore he also received support from former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
As Vallas progressed into the runoff election, he received backing from former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. He has also received them from former mayoral candidates go, Vallas has received backing from Ja’Mal Green, Willie Wilson and Alderman Roderick Sawyer.
As far as unions and organizations go, Vallas has received backing from the Fraternal Order of Police Chicago, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2 and LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois.
A full list of candidate endorsements can be found below.
Johnson
City Council Members:
Daniel La Spata (1st), Pat Dowell (3rd), Julia Ramirez* (12th), Jeanette Taylor (20th), Howard Brookins Jr. (21st), Michael Rodriguez (22nd), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Jessie Fuentes (26th), Jason Ervin (28th), Rossana Rodríguez-Sanchez (33rd), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), Andre Vasquez (40th), Matt Martin (47th) and Maria Hadden (49th).
U.S. Congress:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL), Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL), Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (IL),Rep. Danny Davis (IL), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL), Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC) Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY), Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA), Rep. Troy Carter (LA) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA).
Chicago and Cook County Officials:
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, Cook County Commissioner Anthony Joel Quezada, Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore and Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele.
Illinois Congress:
Sen. Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Sen. Mattie Hunter, Sen. Mike Simmons, Sen. Robert Peters, Sen. Ram Villivalam, Sen. Omar Aquino, Sen. Robert Martwick, Sen. Elgie Sims, Rep. Justin Slaughter, Rep. Kam Buckner, Rep. Lakesia Collins, Rep. Mary Flowers, Rep. Will Guzzardi, Rep. Lilian Jimenez, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr.
Notable Figures
Former U.S. Senator Rev. Jesse Jackson (D.C.), Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (IL), Former U.S. Rep. Marie Newman (IL), Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, Former Cook County Clerk David Orr, Mayor of Little Rock, AR. Frank Scott Jr., Mayor of Denver Michael B. Hancock and Mayor of Newport Phillip Jones and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Groups:
American Federation of Teachers, Chicago Teachers Union, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Service Employees International Union Locals 1, 73, Service Employees International Union Healthcare, United Working Families, Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, Equality Illinois, Illinois Nurses Association, American Federation of Government Employees Local 704, National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, Chicago College and University Unions, Commuters Take Action, Starbucks Workers United Illinois, People’s Action, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 743, National Association of Social Workers – Illinois and Indivisible Chicago Alliance.
Vallas
City Council Members:
Brian Hopkins (2nd), Roderick Sawyer (6th), Michelle Harris (8th), Anthony Beale (9th), Nicole Lee (11th), Raymond Lopez (15th), David Moore (17th), Derrick Curtis (18th), Matthew O’Shea (19th), Silvana Tabares (23rd), Roberto Maldonado (26th), Walter Burnett Jr. (27th)Ariel Reboyras (30th), Felix Cardona Jr. (31st), Emma Mitts (37th), Nicholas Sposato (38th), Samantha Nugent (39th), Anthony Napolitano (41st), Brendan Reilly (42nd), Tom Tunney (44th), Bennett Lawson* (44th) and Debra Silverstein (50th).
U.S. Congress:
Sen. Dick Durbin (IL).
Chicago and Cook County Officials:
Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez.
Illinois Congress:
Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
Notable Figures:
Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Former U.S. Secretary of Education, CEO of CPS Arne Duncan, Former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, Former mayoral candidate Ja’Mal Green, Former Chair of Illinois State Board of Education Gery Chico, Former Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones, Former Congressman Bobby Rush (IL), Former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Former State Sen. Antonio Munoz.
Groups:
Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge #7, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2, LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Armenian National Committee of America, Plumbers Union Local 130, International Union of Operating Engineers Locals 150, 399, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 9, 134, Ironworkers Union District Council of Chicago, Firefighters Local 2, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Latino Leadership Council, Chicagoland Apartment Association, Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Gasworkers Local 18007, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Cook County Democratic Women.
Written by Caroline Buehler
Sources:
Chicago Sun-Times: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Johnson in April 4 mayoral runoff
NBC Chicago: Vallas vs. Johnson: An Updated Endorsement Guide to the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Caroline Buehler
Inset Image Courtesy of Omari Jahi
