Chicago mayoral candidate profile: Brandon Johnson

Brandon Johnson has served in the Cook County Board of Commissioners since 2018, when he defeated incumbent Richard Boykin in the 1st District that covers the western suburbs and West Side of Chicago. Johnson is the son of a pastor and worked as a social studies teacher at Edward Jenner Academy in Cabrini Green until 2010. After that, he became an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union, including during the historic 2012 teachers’ strike that heralded a new era for the union. He has backing from major labor organizations including CTU and the Local 73 and Healthcare chapters of the Service Employees International Union. During his time as Cook County commissioner — a role he was reelected to this past November — Johnson pushed a measure making it illegal to refuse to show or rent property to people with certain criminal records. He also drafted a symbolic resolution that supported diverting money from policing in the wake of nationwide protests demanding police budgets be defunded.

Age: 46

Born: Elgin

Personal: Married to Stacie Rencher-Johnson, raising one daughter and two sons

Education: Bachelor’s degree in human services and youth development; master’s degree in teaching, Aurora University

Neighborhood: Austin

Current job: 1st District Cook County commissioner

Government experience: 1st District Cook County commissioner (2018-present), chief of staff to state Rep. Deborah Graham (2005-2010), constituent service director, state Sen. Don Harmon (2003-2004)

Political experience: Chicago Teachers Union organizer (2011-present)

Campaign slogan: “Brandon is better”

Campaign website: brandonforchicago.com

Johnson’s responses to Tribune candidate questionnaire: Click here

Other candidates’ questionnaire responses: Click here

Who is on the ballot: 2023 Chicago mayoral election guide

Read more:

• Brandon Johnson, Mayor Lightfoot’s newest progressive challenger, enters the mayoral race

• Chicago Teachers Union endorses Brandon Johnson for mayor before he announces

• Just let the Bears go? Mayoral candidates weigh in.

• ‘You brought chaos’: Mayor Lightfoot defends record against challengers ‘Chuy’ García and Brandon Johnson

• In first debate, challengers attack Lori Lightfoot’s record while she aims to ‘finish the job we have started’

• Cook County Board passes symbolic resolution in 2020 to shift money from police, jails in wake of ‘defund’ movements

• Cook County Board considers nonbinding proposal to shift money from ‘failed and racist’ policing, incarceration systems

• Cook County makes it illegal to refuse to show or rent property to people with certain criminal records

• Repealed soda tax spawns two Cook County Board races and $1.8 million in campaign cash