Brandon Johnson Won the Race for Chicago’s Mayor By Loving and Fighting for the City

In Chicago on Tuesday, hope won out over cynicism. Brandon Johnson — a former teacher, union organizer and ​“little known county commissioner” as public radio outlet WBEZ Chicago put it — was elected mayor over entrenched Democratic Party operative Paul Vallas, who was backed by the city’s police union and a slew of prominent political leaders. While the election was close — with Johnson claiming 51% of the vote — the result signified Chicagoans putting their faith in progressive proposals and a candidate who has devoted his life to teaching,...