CHICAGO — Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Brandon Johnson in Chicago’s mayor’s race.
Johnson, a Chicago Teachers Union organizer and public school teacher, is facing former schools CEO Paul Vallas in the April 4 runoff. Polling has showed the two are in a tight race, and they’ve been picking up endorsements in the leadup to the election.
“Commissioner Brandon Johnson has been a champion for working families in Chicago,” Sanders said in a news release. “He is not afraid to stand up for strong unions and make big corporations and the rich pay their fair share to invest in affordable housing, quality health care, better schools, and good jobs.
“Brandon understands the struggle of working people, and is prepared to address them, and that is why I am proud to endorse his campaign for mayor of the city of Chicago.”
The endorsement came just days after Johnson racked up another high-profile endorsement from Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Sanders and Warren are popular with progressives — a crowd Johnson has centered his recent campaign on. Sanders has seen significant support from progressives and young people in Chicago during his presidential campaigns.
Johnson also announced Thursday he’d been endorsed by state Rep. Kam Buckner, who also ran for mayor but fell short in the Feb. 28 election.
Vallas has scored big wins with local leaders, though, getting backed by a number of alderpeople, including alds. Michelle Harris (8th), Anthony Beale (9th), David Moore (17th), Derrick Curtis (18th) and Emma Mitts (37th) just on Thursday. He’s also been backed by other former mayoral candidats Ja’Mal Green, Willie Wilson and Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th).
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