As he inches towards a decision to run for a second term, Mayor Brandon Johnson doubled down on his progressive agenda during an appearance before the City Club.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson looked to woo a mostly pro-business crowd during a discussion downtown on Wednesday. Johnson said he's not changing his plans to improve the city while touching on a potential run for reelection.
As he inches towards a decision to run for a second term, Mayor Brandon Johnson doubled down on his progressive agenda during an appearance before the City Club on Wednesday. "Why are you mad at me for doing what the people of Chicago elected me to do I've kept every single promise, I have not lied to the people of the city," Mayor Johnson said. Johnson used the platform to talk about plummeting crime numbers. He says last summer was Chicago's safest in 60 years. While violent crime is down all over the country, the mayor often takes credit for the downward trend reminding people his investments in youth employment, mental health clinics and violence intervention groups are working, and he says it will continue to work as long as rich people pony up. "We know it's about time the ultra rich has to pay their fair share of taxes... because it's a matter of safety," Johnson said. With a failed attempt at a corporate head tax, Johnson's continued call to tax the rich received light applause from an audience that included many pro-business attendees. "For those of you who did vote for me the first time perhaps you'll get another change to do that," Johnson said. However, Johnson says he is not ready to made a decision about reelection, calling it a distraction. For now, the mayor is focused on the integrity of the 2026 election. Johnson is exploring ways to make sure the elections are fair. "There are a number of things we are looking at, I'm going to continue to work with our legal team and partners around this country to ensure we protect our democracy that our fundamental right to vote is protected and secure," Johnson said. The mayoral election is almost a year away. Mayor Johnson would not say when he will make a decision. His says between his job as mayor and sending off his oldest child to college next fall, he has enough on his plate.Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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