Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson has released a new 30-second ad ahead of tonight’s debate.
The ad touts Johnson’s experience in violence prevention and health care, and mentions helping to pass “the law to ban housing discrimination,” a reference to the Just Housing Amendment passed by the Cook County Board in 2019.
That mayoral debate will stream tonight at 7 p.m. on ABC 7’s website, as well as its YouTube and Facebook pages.
Lori is a disaster and an embarrassment. All candidates other than Chuy, ie the posers, need to throw their weight behind Chuy if they actually want what’s best for the city.
While I have seen this commercial spot several times, Brandon Johnson still remains something of an enigma. How exactly has he accomplished the things listed in the ad? I know that he has union support, especially from the Chicago Teachers’ Union, but he has never held elected or appointed office. To the commercial, I rate it a “C+” at best because it is confusing. I still do not know who the candidate is or what his background is.
Sigh. Honestly I don’t know why the unions think they can pull this off with this kind of money. Brandon Johnson is unknown to the vast majority of Chicago voters. If they were serious about getting him elected, they would have started branding him long ago through a more sustained ad campaign. As of now with this campaign, he’s on track to maybe get 10-15% if he’s lucky. I project him in 4th.
As an ad - solid B+. Like others, the main question will be what proof does he have to back up claims of what he’s done (because most voters likely don’t know he’s a county commissioner).
If ad said “as a Cook County Commissioner” and listed supporting orgs by name - ad would be stronger.
I agree with others that he should name he is a sitting Cook County Commissioner, but I like the general feel of it. As someone who likes Brandon, I am more concerned about how big the ad buy is. He needs to up his name recognition quickly.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 4:44 pm:
The ad is OK, C+, but accusing Rep. Garcia of having an agenda “that is being moved by the Fraternal Order of Police” is not the kind of serious conversation the City needs right now. I’m undecided, but Chuy Garcia is not being moved by the FOP.
“…but accusing Rep. Garcia of having an agenda “that is being moved by the Fraternal Order of Police…”
Huh? The ad says none of that. And everyone knows it’s Vallas that’s tied at the hip with Chicago FOP so I have no idea what you’re talking about.
- northsider (the original) - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 5:14 pm:
The lack of specifics, plus his lack of name recognition make the ad seem very generic. Nice production quality, which somehow makes it seem even more like it could be for anyone.
He doesn’t have much name recognition, but neither did Lori when she ran. However, given that he’s well to the left of Lori (even Candidate Lori), I think it’ll be tougher for him to gain traction against an established name like Chuy.
Good ad. Most of the things he and Chuy spoke of tonight were made possible by the covid funds. I want to know how they can get all this done once that is gone.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 3:45 pm:
I for incomplete.
Lori is a disaster and an embarrassment. All candidates other than Chuy, ie the posers, need to throw their weight behind Chuy if they actually want what’s best for the city.
- Gravitas - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 3:47 pm:
While I have seen this commercial spot several times, Brandon Johnson still remains something of an enigma. How exactly has he accomplished the things listed in the ad? I know that he has union support, especially from the Chicago Teachers’ Union, but he has never held elected or appointed office. To the commercial, I rate it a “C+” at best because it is confusing. I still do not know who the candidate is or what his background is.
- New Day - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 3:48 pm:
Sigh. Honestly I don’t know why the unions think they can pull this off with this kind of money. Brandon Johnson is unknown to the vast majority of Chicago voters. If they were serious about getting him elected, they would have started branding him long ago through a more sustained ad campaign. As of now with this campaign, he’s on track to maybe get 10-15% if he’s lucky. I project him in 4th.
That said, the ad is solid. I’ll give it a B.
- /s - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 3:52 pm:
- Gravitas - Now I’m confused: do you think Cook County Commissioner is not an elected office?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 3:54 pm:
===is not an elected office? ===
Reporters ain’t the only ones who can’t Google before writing. /s
- Any Moose - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 3:59 pm:
As an ad - solid B+. Like others, the main question will be what proof does he have to back up claims of what he’s done (because most voters likely don’t know he’s a county commissioner).
If ad said “as a Cook County Commissioner” and listed supporting orgs by name - ad would be stronger.
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 4:06 pm:
He has very little name recognition and he doesn’t even speak in the ad - very strange choice.
- JoanP - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 4:11 pm:
I tend to agree with others. If the ad had said, “As a Cook County Commissioner, Johnson has . . .”, it would be a lot stronger.
and I want to hear from him, not a voiceover actor.
I’m going with a B-, C+.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 4:23 pm:
Ad C
With a focus on the neighborhood, it’s more appropriate if he were running for alderman and not mayor of Chicago.
- Montrose - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 4:28 pm:
I agree with others that he should name he is a sitting Cook County Commissioner, but I like the general feel of it. As someone who likes Brandon, I am more concerned about how big the ad buy is. He needs to up his name recognition quickly.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 4:44 pm:
The ad is OK, C+, but accusing Rep. Garcia of having an agenda “that is being moved by the Fraternal Order of Police” is not the kind of serious conversation the City needs right now. I’m undecided, but Chuy Garcia is not being moved by the FOP.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 5:10 pm:
Lots of scene cuts…slightly disorienting.
- New Day - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 5:11 pm:
“…but accusing Rep. Garcia of having an agenda “that is being moved by the Fraternal Order of Police…”
Huh? The ad says none of that. And everyone knows it’s Vallas that’s tied at the hip with Chicago FOP so I have no idea what you’re talking about.
- northsider (the original) - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 5:14 pm:
The lack of specifics, plus his lack of name recognition make the ad seem very generic. Nice production quality, which somehow makes it seem even more like it could be for anyone.
- Mark - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 5:18 pm:
He doesn’t have much name recognition, but neither did Lori when she ran. However, given that he’s well to the left of Lori (even Candidate Lori), I think it’ll be tougher for him to gain traction against an established name like Chuy.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 7:39 pm:
did Paul Vallas actually just say not to call out the governors who are dumping people on other states? wow.
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 9:05 pm:
**Brandon Johnson… has never held elected or appointed office.**
It takes a lot of… gravitas … to so strongly make this claim and be so wrong.
- TimO - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 10:10 pm:
Good ad. Most of the things he and Chuy spoke of tonight were made possible by the covid funds. I want to know how they can get all this done once that is gone.
- low level - Thursday, Jan 19, 23 @ 10:46 pm:
==If the ad had said, “As a Cook County Commissioner, Johnson has . . .”, it would be a lot stronger.==. Very true
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 7:17 am:
===it would be a lot stronger===
Not sure how pointing out he holds an office that nobody much cares about makes the ad stronger.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 7:49 am:
It’s a C+
“Why?”
I don’t think it does much in any aspect that elevates a relative unknown to a discussion even to “who is that”
Passing, but it might not make the impact as others pass by it.