The text from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson started as his messages often do.
“Yo!” he wrote Ald. Daniel La Spata, 1st, last month.
The Northwest Side alderman knew what it meant. “That’s when I called him,” he remembered.
A Tribune review of Johnson’s text messages show many politicos have gotten similar messages and read between those two letters themselves.
The mayor’s exchanges with aldermen, Gov. JB Pritzker, top business officials and labor leaders show he is more reluctant than predecessors Lori Lightfoot and Rahm Emanuel to put much in writing. While Lightfoot would often respond to text messages with voluminous essays that sometimes bordered on venomous, Johnson usually replies with a phone call or directs his staff to return the message.
The sea change may also be a sign of the times, as politicians are increasingly wary of sending electronic communications that are subject to public records requests.
In 2018, the Tribune won a lawsuit against the Emanuel administration over his failure to turn over records from personal devices and accounts that he used to conduct city business, a ruling that curtailed Illinois politicians from circumventing the Freedom of Information Act with private phones. It also then paved the way for Lightfoot’s prolific trove of texts to be made public, sometimes further exposing her struggles with interpersonal feuds.
While Johnson’s tight-lipped texts are far more nonchalant and in most cases less revealing than those of prior mayors, the messages do show the reality of how politicians gossip about their rivals, raise concerns about optics and celebrate wins. Politics more often resembles a high school cafeteria with cliques and high jinks or the HBO satire “Veep” than it does the high-minded portrayal of government in “The West Wing.”
In his texts to aldermen, Johnson often cracks jokes and quips. Last November, he texted Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, to thank her for encouraging words after an event.
“It was a good press conference!” Dowell responded. “I don’t blow smoke.”
Johnson responded, “I know you don’t…but we can tax it though (hemp).”
The mayor’s sometimes lighthearted, mostly light-worded texting style is a “prudent communication strategy” given that journalists eagerly pore through mayoral messages after obtaining them via records requests, La Spata said. The habit also helps keep discussions confidential in a City Hall culture where screenshots are quickly captured and sent, he added.
“If you look back at the myriad FOIAs of Lori Lightfoot’s texts, I think it’s a smart lesson to learn,” he said. “And I don’t mind it, to be perfectly honest.”
Still, Johnson occasionally reaches out to individuals with urgency.
On Oct. 8, the mayor messaged SEIU Healthcare President Greg Kelley to ask for an hour to talk before Johnson left for London the next day. He first asked Kelley to come “west or in the west loop” but then asked, “Will it be intrusive if I came to your home… It’s urgent and I do understand the inconvenience.”
Kelley said he thought it was important the union’s vice president, Erica Bland-Durosinmi, participate, but added that she was under the weather. “Call me,” the mayor wrote two hours later.
Kelley told the Tribune that Johnson never followed up with what he wanted, but the union official appreciated how labor now “has an ear” on the fifth floor. “I mean, that’s why we supported him,” Kelley said.
Another pattern for the mayor: emojis, occasionally a raised fist, a thumbs-up, a laughing face or a facepalm, and often a flexed arm, prayer hands or a heart.
Johnson sent one such heart to Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th, a conservative who celebrated Trump’s election victory by flaunting the new president’s memorabilia in City Council meetings for weeks, after Sposato texted that he would pick up lunch for the mayor. The two have struck up an unlikely friendship — one that has also seen Sposato side with Johnson on tough votes, including his 2025 budget.
The mayor likes a turkey and Swiss with mustard, mayo and hot giardiniera, Sposato said, questioning the choice. And he doesn’t seem to like arguing over text.
“I debate him on many a thing, but more so in private,” Sposato said.
Not every note has a clear resolution. Sometimes, Johnson doesn’t respond, but the one-sided texts can also provide insight into the state of the mayor’s relationships with other officials.
In November 2023, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin texted Johnson about O’Hare International Airport, just as Johnson was trying to renegotiate a deal with airlines over the airport’s $8.5 billion overhaul.
“I’ve seen this movie with the same players. We need a strong united front,” Durbin texted. “We can talk numbers but should make it clear that squeezing out competition is a selfish plan. Tammy and I are together.”
In February 2024, Durbin followed up.
“Don’t want to overreact but your staff has gone radio silent on O’Hare and rumor has it a deal was reached on terminal with the airlines,” Durbin said. “Can you fill me in?”
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth texted a couple of weeks later asking to connect with some frustration.
“We all agreed to a meeting w Sec Buttiege and seem to be having a hard time getting the city to participate,” Duckworth wrote, referring to then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “It is critically important that we get the project moving without losing any gates or further delays,” “Again, the federal electeds and Dept of Transportationnis [sic] committed to looking for additional funds but we need the city to participate per your agreement with everyone in the last meeting.”
Like the senators, aldermen often use Johnson’s line to air grievances and share advice, with or without a response. In May 2024, Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, texted Johnson a Windy City Times article about Pride Parade cuts.
“Not sure if your team is keeping you in the loop on this or not, but this is a bad look and it’s unclear who is making these decisions but you and your administration will be blamed,” Hadden wrote. “Just wanted to give you a heads up that it’s a big deal.”
Ald. David Moore, 17th, reached out in August 2023 about a Johnson public appearance.
“Going forward, always let your press person end a press conference. They should be in tune with you, your facial expression, your body language, and the line of questioning. They can set the number of questions to be asked and end it at that,” Moore wrote. “You don’t want to give anyone the opportunity to make a mountain out of a molehill.”
Dowell, the powerful Finance Committee chair who jumped ship from Lightfoot’s campaign to support Johnson, texted that she opposed his decision to end ShotSpotter. The fraught debate was weighing on her, she said.
“I had optimism that we were progressing in a positive direction with CPD..the hiring of Snelling, the focus on the consent decree and violence prevention funding, the fact that our crime numbers are down for real and that police morale is improving, but this decision is not one I support,” Dowell said. “We need to help our constituents feel safe and taking away a technology that the police find valuable may not be the most effective strategy.”
Complaining about each other
Aldermen frequently complain about each other to Johnson. He has sometimes struggled to maintain control at meetings or keep his political allies’ support on key measures.
In July 2023, Burnett texted Johnson about Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, who had tweeted a poll seeking opinions about “the Best Way to honor Italian Heritage in Chicago” that included an Italian ice monument as an option.
“I just got a call from the (Italian) organization about a tweet that the Aldermen from the 33rd ward sent out that they (felt) was insulting,” Burnett said. “They’re going on channel nine tonight and asking that the Mayor and the council censor her.”
“They’ve been fighting over Columbus,” Burnett said. Johnson did not respond.
Burnett, Johnson’s Vice Mayor and Zoning chair, mimicked the mayor’s go-to “Yo!” line five times in November and December in texts to Johnson, a habit other aldermen have also picked up. He said he tries to not waste the mayor’s time with gossip.
“I just want to give him a heads up if he had to deflect or whatever,” Burnett said. “The concern is making sure little things like that don’t affect the city and the business we’re trying to do.”
Sometimes the gripes are more pointed.
Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, often at odds with Johnson, texted the mayor in September 2023 to ask if it was his administration’s policy to have aldermen call committee chairmen for “routine items (to) be placed on the agenda.”
“This has never been the case. Your chairman are a reflection of your administration and your chairman and So called floor leader Carlos Rosa is requesting alderman call him and kiss his ring before (items) are placed on the agenda,” Beale wrote. “This is not collaboration. So please let me know if this is your policy therefore I will know how best to proceed with representing my residents.
“Yo!” Johnson replied a day later. “Good morning. Thanks for the text. You always have a direct line and I’ll follow up with you.”
Ald. Chris Taliaferro, 29th, was critical of Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, for giving a speech in front of a charred American flag, which Sigcho-Lopez said he hadn’t seen. Johnson talked with Taliaferro and other aldermen in a meeting in part planned over text, and Taliaferro agreed not to censure Sigcho-Lopez.
After the council voted to note censure Sigcho-Lopez in early April, Taliaferro messaged Johnson with some dissatisfaction about Sigcho-Lopez’s remarks.
“I upheld my word and promise. Even after an inflammatory speech. He was very critical and unapologetic and even spewed unfair criticism in my direction,” Taliaferro wrote. “I’ll be on my guard moving forward with him. Thanks for your leadership.”
Even though the note got no response, sending Johnson the message helped Taliaferro know the mayor understands him, the alderman said.
“He definitely sees them,” he told the Tribune. “It creates a dialogue.”
In May, Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th, texted Johnson about a conversation they had regarding Ramirez-Rosa being “restored” to a leadership position on the City Council after a kerfuffle led to his resignation in December 2023. She opposed the move, she told the mayor.
That same month, Sposato sent Johnson a conservative X account’s criticism of Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, for confronting anti-abortion protesters at Planned Parenthood. Johnson did not respond via text. The two had texted to schedule a 7 p.m. call earlier that day.
‘You’re winning them over baby!’
But it’s not all bad news on the mayor’s phone. Other messages give him helpful pointers, high praise or a heads up about potential rivals’ perceived machinations.
The texts reveal some unlikely relationships. Michael Sacks, Rahm Emanuel’s closest ally in the business community, texted him, “Congrats on getting first budget done!” He got a “Thank you!” in return.
While Johnson comes from the Chicago Teachers Union, which is often viewed as anti-business by the city’s wealthy interests, he has received significant encouragement from the head of the Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago, two pro-business organizations.
In October 2023, Johnson received praise from Derek Douglas, president of the Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago, for a speech.
“You killed it! Universal praise. You’re winning them over baby!” Douglas wrote. “Thanks for coming. Let’s get a regular (maybe monthly) meeting with a few CEOs set up to keep the momentum going. You have a real opportunity to get the business community behind you in a big way.”
Douglas has been a frequent supporter, texting him congratulations last May on reaching a deal with United and American regarding the O’Hare renovation. Douglas told Johnson the business community was “very pleased” with “lots of positive buzz” for giving the airlines “the sequencing that they wanted yet remain committed to completing the full project.”
After the Democratic National Convention, Michael Jacobson, president of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, texted Johnson, “Truly an epic week for the city. I could not have imagined a more successful execution.”
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren texted, “CONGRATULATIONS! You pulled it off! Great convention. With you as mayor, Chicago was the hostess with the (mostest).” The mayor replied with a “thank you” and a heart.
In November 2024, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza criticized Johnson school board appointee Olga Bautista on social media and said aldermen should have confirmation power of mayoral CPS appointments. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch texted Johnson a link to a Mendoza tweet on the subject and added, “She’s calling around about this. FYI.”
Johnson responded by asking Welch for a chat. Mendoza is considered a potential 2027 mayoral candidate.
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and Johnson regularly text humorous or supportive messages.
When Johnson met Emanuel in his office in July 2023, he sent to Davis Gates a Twitter post of himself with the former mayor, who is missing part of a finger due to a high school accident working at Arby’s.
“You’ve having quite the day,” she responded, adding the name “Fingers.”
In another note early in his administration, she shared some advice that didn’t work too well in Greek mythology.
“Fly closer to the sun,” she said. “Go faster. Get bigger. Don’t slow down.”
