* Crain’s…
With Chicago’s 2027 mayoral election seven months away, a new University of Chicago poll suggests Mayor Brandon Johnson faces an uphill climb if he seeks a second term.
Just 13.6% of likely Chicago voters said they want Johnson to run for re-election, according to a survey commissioned by the University of Chicago’s Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
Fifty-eight percent said they were not excited by the prospect of another Johnson campaign.
The poll also found Johnson with a 23% job approval rating, down slightly from 25% in the institute’s December 2025 ChicagoSpeaks survey.
* More from the poll…
Percentage of respondents excited for each candidate among likely voters
Percentage of respondents who don’t know enough about candidate among likely voters
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also had the lowest “not excited” rating among the potential candidates tested, with just 14.5% of likely voters saying they were not excited about a possible Giannoulias candidacy. Comptroller Susana Mendoza followed at 16%, while 20% said the same about US Rep. Mike Quigley.
* The Methodology…
This report describes findings from a survey of Chicagoans regarding opinions on the job performance of the City’s Mayor and excitement for potential candidates in the 2027 ChicagoMayoral election. The survey included 1,194 Chicagoans age 18+ and was completed betweenJune 15 to June 23 as part of the quarterly ChicagoSpeaks® panel. Conducted by NORC at theUniversity of Chicago, ChicagoSpeaks is a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the city of Chicago household population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4.05 percentage points.
- Sox Fan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 12:48 pm:
29.7% excitement for MBJ - when negative publicity on him is more saturated than any other candidate - makes him look pretty viable to me.
- low level - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 12:51 pm:
As a lifelong Chicago resident, count me as completely unexcited about Alexi. I have never understood his appeal. I vote for him in general elections but not in primaries if there is another choice.
Whether he’d be a good mayor is another matter entirely but count me out in the first round.
- George Ryan Reynolds - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 12:56 pm:
Was it the shirtless, jumping-into-Lake-Michigan photo that generated all this excitement, or the “back in the lab” beefcake workout videos?
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
Why would anyone in their right mind want to be Mayor of Chicago? It’s a whole bunch of problems and very little upside. The finances are terrible. Plus it’s never really been a springboard to other office. It’s a dead end.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 12:58 pm:
===Why would anyone in their right mind want to be Mayor of Chicago?===
It’s a great city. Just because two people screwed up the job doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You can do a lot as mayor.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 1:02 pm:
===makes him look pretty viable to me===
I could use a lot more optimism in my life right now, so I’d like you to share your secrets, please.
lol
- Annon'in - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 1:19 pm:
Pretty sure most Americans would identify as “non excited” with just about ANY pol running for any office anywhere in USA. But its summer. Capt Fax the best way to build optimism is think good thoughts about SOXv. Cards World Series.
- Steve - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
The poll should be a warning to Mayor Johnson. Giannoulias has name recognition and money. Mendoza and Pappas are experienced politicians. These aren’t inexperienced people the voters don’t know.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 1:27 pm:
- two people screwed up the job -
Only 2?
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jul 15, 26 @ 1:31 pm:
===Mendoza and Pappas are experienced politicians.===
Sometimes experience means folks run a campaign that would’ve been a great campaign 30 years ago.