- Credibility:
CHICAGO — The mayoral race is down to two candidates — and they’re lining up endorsements.
Paul Vallas, former Chicago Public Schools CEO, and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson prevailed in a crowded field Feb. 28 to advance to the runoff April 4.
Some alderpeople had already thrown their hats behind Vallas or Johnson, while others are jumping on the bandwagon after backing one of the other seven candidates in round one of the election.
Mayoral candidates hope the endorsements can swing voters — while alderpeople can use them as leverage for influential positions in the next City Council.
Here’s a look at who is backing whom for Chicago’s next mayor.
Credit: (Kathleen Hinkel for Block Club Chicago)Paul Vallas
Endorsed by Feb. 28 general election:
- Ald. Tom Tunney (44th)
- Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd)
- Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd)
- Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st)
Endorsed for April 4 runoff:
- Ald. Walter Burnett (27th)
- Ald. Roderick Saywer (6th)
- Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th)
- Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th)
- Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd)
- Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th)
- Ald. Felix Cardona (31st)
- Ald. Nicole Lee (11th)
- Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th)
- Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th)
- Alderman-elect Bennett Lawson (44th)
- Ald. Michelle Harris (8th)
- Ald. Anthony Beale (9th)
- Ald. David Moore (17th)
- Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th)
- Ald. Emma Mitts (37th)
- Ald. Nick Sposato (38th)
- Alderman-elect Bennett Lawson (44th)
Other prominent endorsements:
Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White endorsed Vallas in early March. The following day, White’s longtime protégé, Ald. Walter Burnett, announced his own endorsement of Vallas.
Other Vallas backers include:
- Former Gov. Pat Quinn
- Businessman and former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson
- Activist and former mayoral candidate Ja’Mal Green
- Sen. Dick Durbin
- Former state education Supt. Gery Chico, who was Chicago Board of Education president during Vallas’ tenure
- Billionaire Citadel founder Ken Griffin
- Former Whitney Young Principal Joyce Kenner
- Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoBrandon Johnson
Endorsed by Feb. 28 general election:
- Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd)
- Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd)
- Ald. Matt Martin (47th)
- Ald. Maria Hadden (49th)
- Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st)
- Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th)
- Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th)
- Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th)
Endorsed for Apr. 4 runoff:
- Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th)
- Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd)
- Ald. Jason Ervin (28th)
- Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st)
- Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th)
Other notable endorsements:
Former mayoral candidates Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García and Kam Bucker have backed Johnson, as have Civil Rights activist Jesse Jackson, Rep. Danny Davis, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Cook County board President Toni Preckwinkle, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Other backers include:
- U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson
- U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez
- City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin
- Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn
- State Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas
- State Sen. Celina Villanueva
- State Rep. Lakesia Collins
- State Rep. Mary Flowers
- State Rep. Will Guzzardi
- State Rep. Lilian Jimenez
- State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez
- Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford
- State Sen. Elgie Sims
- State Rep. Justin Slaughter
- Former State Sen. Donne Trotter
- Former Cook County Clerk David Orr
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to “The Ballot: A Block Club Chicago Podcast”:
