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Chicago Has a Warning for Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani’s shocking win in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary calls to mind past progressive victories. And in one instance, it could be a cautionary tale.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shocked Chicago politics in 2023 when he obtained a place in a two-person runoff, denying incumbent Lori Lightfoot a spot. He then narrowly beat his more conservative opponent thanks to a boost in young voter turnout and a combination of strong performances in Black and progressive wards, along with enough support in Latino ones.
But two years into Johnson’s administration, his approval rating in his best polls is still below 30 percent, and some polling has been substantially lower. Despite progress on issues like labor, crime, and housing, progressive allies on the city council are vocally criticizing him, and opponents are already gearing up to oust him in 2027.
“He’s a newcomer,” said Jaime Dominguez, an associate professor of political science at Northwestern University, referencing Johnson’s scant experience in city government before his election. Johnson previously was a commissioner in Cook County, which houses Chicago, but just for four years. “It’s just kind of new terrain. And he’s learning, and of course making mistakes along the way.”
His struggles have been preyed upon by national media. The Wall Street Journal’s famously conservative editorial board calls Johnson “America’s Worst Mayor.” The New York Times’ board, in their column regarding New York City’s mayoral primary, implied Johnson is contributing to his city’s decline, while encouraging Democrats not to place Mamdani on their ranked-choice ballots.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shocked Chicago politics in 2023 when he obtained a place in a two-person runoff, denying incumbent Lori Lightfoot a spot. He then narrowly beat his more conservative opponent thanks to a boost in young voter turnout and a combination of strong performances in Black and progressive wards, along with enough support in Latino ones.
But two years into Johnson’s administration, his approval rating in his best polls is still below 30 percent, and some polling has been substantially lower. Despite progress on issues like labor, crime, and housing, progressive allies on the city council are vocally criticizing him, and opponents are already gearing up to oust him in 2027.
“He’s a newcomer,” said Jaime Dominguez, an associate professor of political science at Northwestern University, referencing Johnson’s scant experience in city government before his election. Johnson previously was a commissioner in Cook County, which houses Chicago, but just for four years. “It’s just kind of new terrain. And he’s learning, and of course making mistakes along the way.”
His struggles have been preyed upon by national media. The Wall Street Journal’s famously conservative editorial board calls Johnson “America’s Worst Mayor.” The New York Times’ board, in their column regarding New York City’s mayoral primary, implied Johnson is contributing to his city’s decline, while encouraging Democrats not to place Mamdani on their ranked-choice ballots.
https://prospect.org/politics/2025-07-16-chicago-has-warning-for-zohran-mamdani/
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