Safety and affordability top-of-mind for Chicagoans ahead of mayoral inauguration

On April 4, 2023 Chicagoans elected Brandon Johnson in a runoff election to select the city’s next mayor. After the runoff election and prior to Mayor-Elect Johnson being sworn in as mayor on May 15, The Harris Poll surveyed a representative sample of city residents regarding their priorities and outlook on issues impacting Chicago. Below are some of the key findings.

Following a close race, Chicagoans’ opinion on Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson is unsurprisingly divided. Johnson’s platform, rather than his party affiliation or stated political leanings, likely contribute to the divide.

A third of city residents (35%) have a positive opinion of Johnson and 26% have a negative opinion. The share of those with a negative opinion increase to 57% among those who report having voted for opposing candidate Paul Vallas in the runoff election. Three-quarters (73%) of those who report abstaining from the vote express ambivalence toward Johnson (i.e., a neutral or undecided opinion).

Eight in 10 Chicagoans (79%) agree that they would vote for a candidate who shared their beliefs, regardless of party affiliation. This increases to 89% among those who report having voted for opposing candidate Paul Vallas in the runoff election.

Safety and affordability are top-of-mind for Chicago residents ahead of Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson’s inauguration.

Six in 10 Chicagoans (60%) think that public safety is worse in Chicago than it is in other cities. This increases to 74% among those who report having voted for Vallas, vs 48% among those who report having voted for Johnson. Four in 10 Chicagoans (37%) think that public safety in Chicago will worsen over the next 5 years. This decreases to 27% among those who report having voted for Johnson, vs 42% among those who report having voted for Paul Vallas.

Six in 10 Chicagoans (61%) think that Chicago’s taxes and fees are worse than those in other cities. This increases to 75% among those who report having voted for Vallas, vs 57% among those who report having voted for Johnson. About half of Chicagoans (48%) think that the cities taxes and fees will worsen over the next 5 years. This decreases to 34% among those who report having voted for Johnson, vs 59% among those who report having voted for Vallas.

It’s worth noting that at least half of city residents who report having moved or considered moving in the last year cite neighborhood safety (56%) or cost of living (51%) as motivators.

Overall, confidence in Mayor-Elect Johnson’s ability to manage these issues is divided.

About half of Chicago residents (46%) think that Johnson will be effective at addressing Chicago’s public safety situation; the same number (42%) think Johnson will be ineffective. One in 10 residents (12%) are unsure about his ability to do so. Four in 10 Chicago residents (40%) think that Johnson will be effective at addressing Chicago’s taxes and fees; the same number (43%) think Johnson will be ineffective. Two in 10 residents (17%) are unsure about his ability to do so.

To address Chicago’s public safety issues, residents more often support a reallocation of tax dollars than a tax increase.

A quarter of city residents support a tax increase to hire more police officers, and twice as many (48%) oppose. Comparatively, half (45%) support a reallocation of tax dollars to hire more police officers while only a quarter (27%) oppose.

A quarter of city residents support a tax increase to fund non-policing public safety initiatives, with 45% opposed. Comparatively, half (46%) support a reallocation of tax dollars to fund non-policing public safety initiatives while only a quarter (24%) oppose.

Half of residents (48%) note that they would be more likely to support a tax increase to fund public safety initiatives if the increase applies primarily to businesses and high-income households, while only 21% oppose.

This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from April 28, 2023 to May 2, 2023 among 591 City of Chicago residents, aged 18+. Figures for age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, household income, and marital status have been weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions within the Chicago population. Respondents for this survey were selected from a pool of potential respondents who have agreed to participate in The Harris Poll’s online research.