Brandon Johnson's Victory in Chicago's Mayoral Race and the Challenges Ahead

Brandon Johnson, a progressive county commissioner, won the Chicago mayoral race by defeating Paul Vallas, a more conservative Democrat, after finishing second in the first round of balloting. Johnson won over liberal voters across the city by tapping into the vast network of progressive groups in Chicago and pitching voters on a public safety plan that went beyond policing. He also capitalized on key endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Jesús G. García. Johnson's victory was a "huge rebuke" of the tough-on-crime policies pitched by Vallas, and he will take over a deeply divided Chicago.