In Chicago, Brandon Johnson was elected mayor in a major victory for progressives. Johnson, a Black teachers’ union organizer, defeated conservative Democrat Paul Vallas, a champion of charter schools who ran on a law-and-order platform, despite massive amounts of money being poured into the Vallas campaign. Johnson spoke last night after his victory was announced, calling Chicago a “union town” and vowing to support working people.

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson: “The truth is the people have always worked for Chicago. Whether you wake up early to open the doors of your businesses or teach middle school or wear a badge to protect our streets or nurse patients in need or provide child care services, you have always worked for this city. And now Chicago will begin to work for its people, all the people.”