The Johnson campaign has teased an announcement for Friday morning at La Villita Community Church in the Little Village neighborhood, well-known as Garcia’s home base. The City Council’s Little Village rep, Ald. Mike Rodriguez, 22nd, will also be in attendance.

While both candidates have touted recent endorsements — Vallas from mayoral opponents Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, Ja’Mal Green and Willie Wilson; Johnson from national figures like U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — it’s been the backing from Garcia and Mayor Lori Lightfoot that the two runoff candidates have most coveted in the race to shore up various voting blocs ahead of the April 4 vote. 

In the first round of voting, Garcia netted over 77,000 votes, or 13.7% of the ballots. Garcia’s support could boost Johnson in wards where he lagged behind Vallas during the first round of voting like the Far South Side 10th Ward and the 12th, 14th and 22nd wards on the Southwest Side.