It's coming down to the wire in Chicago's mayoral runoff election, and the choice between the remaining candidates is stark. Incumbent Lori Lightfoot has already been kicked to the curb by voters, not even qualifying for the final face-off between the leading two vote-getters. Recent polling out of the race shows a deadlock -- or at least a tight contest -- between moderate Democrat Paul Vallas, who's campaigned on an anti-crime agenda, and left-winger Brandon Johnson. Johnson is a 'community organizer,' paid by the infamous Chicago Teachers Union, and has been a 'defund the police' advocate.
Lightfoot was an awful mayor, but Johnson (who was just endorsed by another leading leftist who was previously in the race) would arguably be worse. And based on these surveys, he's got a real shot at leading America's third-largest city:
NEW: IZQ Strategies Poll of the Chicago Mayoral Runoff Election
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 16, 2023
Brandon Johnson - 46%
Paul Vallas - 44%
Not sure - 10%
Mar 15 - 16 | n = 680 | MOE: ±4%https://t.co/E7Lo5HWz1t pic.twitter.com/p2QJnK9I3Y
New Mayor Runoff Poll:
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) March 12, 2023
Vallas 45%
Johnson 39%
Undecided 16%
Victory Research #ChiMayor23 pic.twitter.com/lflv51xV4f
Early voting begins Monday, and the election is April 4th. In a heated debate yesterday, Vallas went after Johnson's record, pointing out that the former teacher and lobbyist/organizer has never run anything of note:
The voters know the difference between empty slogans and real solutions. I've managed billion dollar budgets, investing in all of our communities, and I'll do it again as Mayor. My opponent has never managed anything, and we can't have a Mayor who has to learn on the job. pic.twitter.com/2wFQSIcLvs
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 17, 2023
Vallas is also going hard at Johnson on crime:
Brandon Johnson’s goal is to defund the police, and he’s ready to cut CPD’s budget by $150 Million to make it happen. We need a Mayor who will put crime reduction and public safety first. pic.twitter.com/78W8lHnyy1
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 17, 2023
The contrast on the debate stage tonight could not have been more clear. Brandon Jonhson wants to defund the police, won’t fill the vacancies at CPD and has no plan to reduce crime. I’m running for Mayor to put crime reduction and public safety first. pic.twitter.com/CQsq6Ws8oO
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 17, 2023
The teachers' unions are all in for Johnson, heavily bankrolling his campaign. On the subject of crime in Chicago (or fake crime, in this case), in case you missed it, I'll leave you with some of the best content you'll see all year:
Jussie Smollett’s Fake Attackers Recreate Hate Crime Hoax for Fox Nation: ‘This Is MAGA Country!’
— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) March 16, 2023
Ola theorized he wanted to be a “poster boy for activism.”
“He wanted to be the hero for gay people, for black people,” Abel added.
via @WritingLeeman https://t.co/96ssbChWEQ
pic.twitter.com/1gzykFVBrx
— Omar🎖 (@realOmarSheriff) March 14, 2023
This reenactment by the Nigerian bros involved in that smollet hoax is INCREDIBLE.