Editor’s note: The excerpts below are from the speech of Chicago mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson following the city’s February 28 election. Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas will face each other in a run-off election on April 4, 2023.
They said that this would never happen. I am so freaking proud, because we did this. You know, a few months ago, they said they didn’t know who I was. Well, if you didn’t know, now you know. There are so many people who are responsible for this moment and I thank you all. Of course, I want to thank the author and the finisher of my faith. That is my God. Because you all know the fifth floor is going to really be saved and sanctified. And of course I want to thank my family. I’m not here without them, especially for my wife. My wife of 25 years come June. A black woman will still be in charge. Of course, to the workers of this city, SEIU, ACII, SEIU 73, the Chicago Teachers Union, Cook County Colleges Teachers Union, the IFT the AFT, and the baddest Independent Political Organization, the United Working Families. There are so many elected officials here and leaders from across the city. Thank you all. We have shifted the political dynamics in this city.
But I want to acknowledge all the other candidates . . . I may not have always agreed with you all, but running for office is difficult and is an at of service. Let’s give all the other candidates a round of applause. And, if you voted for one of those other candidates, I want you to know that I’m running to be the mayor of you too. And I’m going to work just as hard as I have to get to this point to earn your support.Â
And I want to thank all the Chicagoans who made this happen. You went door to door, you made phone calls. Yes, some of y’all have been harassing your family members for months…You turned our hope into reality because you believe that a better Chicago is possible. But guess what we get to do now? Y’all, we get to turn the page of the politics of old because with our voices and our votes, we’ve come together as one city to say we deserve a Chicago that is better, stronger, safer for everyone. Yes, no matter where you live, no matter where you look, what you look like, you deserve to have a better, stronger, safer Chicago.
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