Giannoulias criticizes Johnson administration as Chicago mayor's race accelerates

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias sharpened his criticism of Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday, using his first one-on-one interview since launching his 2027 mayoral bid to argue that City Hall is in need of new leadership.

With another senior official departing Johnson's administration - this time the mayor's budget director, who resigned just ahead of budget season - Giannoulias said the turnover underscores what he sees as a broader failure of leadership.

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"I feel as if the city's leadership has failed, and I want to be part of the solution," Giannoulias said.

Two days into his campaign, Giannoulias directly targeted Johnson's record, pointing to what he described as instability inside the administration.

"I'm saying this mayor has not met the moment, and that's not my opinion. Those are facts. We saw it with the resignation, the revolving door of high-level administrators leaving the office, city officials leaving," he said.

Giannoulias appeared alongside Gov. JB Pritzker earlier in the day as the governor signed two bills aimed at protecting consumers from unfair increases in auto and homeowners insurance rates.

"Today was a great day for the people, and it's a testament to what we've done in the Secretary of State's Office and what we're going to do at City Hall," Giannoulias said.

He declined to say whether voters should be concerned about him seeking reelection as secretary of state in November while also running for mayor in February.

"I think voters decide what's important to them, and I will tell you unequivocally: They want competence. They want someone who will get things done, and someone who will work to unite this city," he said. "I think a part of our campaign is not just about winning a mayor's race, it's looking at making sure there's a City Council that we can work with, an elected school board that is independent."

Giannoulias also said addressing the city's pension crisis will require broad cooperation.

"Everyone's going to have to make sacrifices going forward. We're all going to have to work together. That means organized labor. That means working families. That means elected officials. That means the business community," he said.

Johnson, meanwhile, has not announced whether he will seek another term. He said he believes Chicagoans deserve a period without campaign politics.

"I just believe that the people of Chicago deserve like a season where their mayor is not involved in a whole bunch of political conversation, right?" Johnson said.

Ten candidates have already declared their campaigns for mayor. Businessman and philanthropist Willie Wilson has scheduled what he calls a "big announcement" for next Monday, signaling he may soon join the race.