Mayor Johnson brushes off concerns on CTU dues defeat ahead of possible reelection campaign
In 2023, CTU and its affiliates spent $5.7 million to help Johnson get elected
CHICAGO (WLS) -- While Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to make any announcements about reelection, he says he's not worried his biggest financial backer in his first election suffered a major defeat. The Chicago Teachers Union members voted down a dues increase.
Two buses full of Chicago Teachers Union members headed to Springfield Wednesday morning to once again request more funding for Chicago Public Schools. To pay for political activity like trips to the state capital and campaigns, CTU was hoping to raise $8.5 million with a member dues increase. But teachers rejected it.
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"I don't run unions; I run the city of Chicago. So I don't opine on any decision that any labor union decides of what they're going to do with their working file," Johnson said.
Johnson brushed off any concern about the dues defeat. In 2023, CTU and its affiliates spent $5.7 million to help Johnson get elected. So far, Johnson has close to $900,000 in his campaign coffers, far less than other potential mayoral candidates.
"He has not done a great job of raising money on his own. So he's kind of behind the 8 Ball in terms of having the money he needs to run a serious race. And he's going to be very dependent on the CTU to do that," ABC7 Chicago political analyst Laura Washington said.
Johnson's financial dependence on CTU is likely to be greater for reelection because of an ongoing feud between CTU and the Service Employees International Union. SEIU helped bankroll Johnson's 2023 campaign.
"If money is the predictor of a campaign outcome, then I would not be the mayor of Chicago. I was outspent 3-1. Here is if the best way to get the message out. It's not about my political message; it's about what happening in Chicago," Johnson said.
While Johnson is proof raising the most money doesn't translate into victory, political experts say Chicago mayoral candidates, even incumbents, must raise millions of dollars to get their message out, especially if there is a runoff.
Washington says CTU may not be equipped to help Johnson like the union did in 2023.
"Last time he was running as a novice; now he has a record that can be attacked, a record that could be criticized. And he's going to have to spend money to defend that," Washington said.
The 2027 mayoral race will kick off soon. Candidates for Chicago's municipal elections can begin circulating petitions July 28. They are due Oct. 26.
