Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s approval drops to 14%, unfavorable reaches 80%
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s approval rating is down to 14%, the lowest in Chicago mayoral history. Nearly 80% of those polled hold an unfavorable view of Johnson.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s approval rating is 14%, according to an Illinois Policy Institute poll. Of the 798 registered Chicago voters polled by M3, nearly 80% have an unfavorable view of Johnson, including 65% saying “very unfavorable.”
For reference, the approval rating for U.S. Congress is at 17%. Johnson’s mayoral approval is the lowest in modern Chicago history. Johnson’s low favorability is striking given how early he is into his administration. Low approval ratings are more common when someone is on their way out of office.
The January poll shows Johnson’s low rating came from voters whose top concern for the city was crime, followed by high taxes and city governance.
Johnson landed in office largely because of ties to his former employer, the Chicago Teachers Union. CTU bankrolled his campaign for the mayor’s office.
His close alignment with CTU has been a double-edged sword, earning him support among union members but alienating a broader base of the city's residents. The poll showed 57% of voters would be less likely to vote for someone who took campaign cash from CTU.
Taxpayers have reason to be concerned about Johnson’s allegiance to CTU. The union has made over 700 new contract demands Chicago Public Schools administrators have projected will create a $4 billion deficit by 2029 if just 52 of the demands are met.
With a historic percentage of Chicagoans disapproving of Johnson’s performance, its time city leaders introduce a mechanism for the voters to recall public officials who aren’t serving their interests.
To see more details about the poll, click here.