Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to deliver opening remarks at the Democratic National Convention around 6 p.m. Monday.
It will be the progressive rookie mayor’s biggest moment in the national spotlight since he took office in May 2023 and assumed the role of leading the host city in the made-for-TV event. For his part, Johnson plans to underscore Chicago’s successes and significance in the Democratic Party, potentially elevating its public image after a bumpy year for his administration.
Johnson, a former organizer with the firebrand Chicago Teachers Union, was one of the first Democrats to come out and back Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket when President Joe Biden dropped out of the running.
Since then, he has stumped for the fresh nominee by drawing on their shared identity as Black leaders, even as he has also taken a sharp stance against Israel in the Gaza war.