Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced intense criticism online after posting a dancing video on Instagram to announce his re-election bid. The video, meant to appeal to younger voters, instead drew negative comments about rising crime and economic issues under his leadership. Statistics show Chicago experienced a 27 percent overall crime surge in the past four years, with significant increases in motor vehicle thefts and misdemeanor thefts, although murders and robberies decreased.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been brutally mocked online for posting a dancing video announcing his re-election bid.
The 50-year-old Democrat shared footage of himself dancing to Hideaway by Kiesza via Instagram in an apparent attempt to appeal to a younger audience online.
However, the video did not appear to have the desired effect, as the comment section was flooded with criticism of his political performance over the past four years.
asserted
section → see → years
'No solidified plan, just dancing,' one person wrote, as another said: 'Cringe,' while adding that Johnson would 'absolutely not' be getting their vote.
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Johnson → solidify → vote
Many pointed out that Johnson has overseen surging crime in parts of the metro.
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Johnson → point → metro
The Illinois city, which is home to 2.7 million people, saw a 27 percent surge in overall crime through 2025 compared with the previous four years, police statistics show.
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statistics → see → years
'CTA (Chicago Transport Authority) crime still high percentages,' one person wrote in the comment section of Johnson's video.
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person → write → video
'College students still getting robbed in the city without any help or follow up with CPD (Chicago Police Department).
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students → rob → CPD
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been brutally mocked online for posting a dancing video announcing his re-election bid.
asserted
Johnson → mock → bid
The 50-year-old incumbent shared footage of himself dancing to Hideaway by Kiesza via Instagram in an attempt to appeal to a younger audience online
'
asserted
himself → share → audience
We got filthy streets and yet unemployment is high.
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unemployment → get → streets
'
Another person said there 'ain't no way in hell' they would vote for Johnson
'We had high hopes,' a third Windy City resident lamented.
'
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resident → say → hopes
Letting ICE, CPD, and GOP run rampant over Chicago is not something we can survive for ANOTHER four years.
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we → let → years
'Spending SO much more for Chicago to be unsafe for Latino/as AND another huge budget deficit are TWO big reasons he's a NO for my family and neighbors.
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he → spend → family
'
'He has done nothing absolutely nothing about teen takeovers, street takeovers, property taxes, doesn't know how to manage money properly, going to London and taking half his administration on tax payers dollars,' one Instagram user said.
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user → do → dollars
The 27 percent surge in crime through 2025 compared with the previous four years was driven largely by an increase in motor vehicle thefts, which rose from 10,605 incidents in 2021 to 17,129 last year – a 62 percent increase.
asserted
which → compare → increase
Johnson's video did not appear to have the desired effect, as the comment section was flooded with criticism of the Democrat's political performance over the past four years
Misdemeanor thefts were also up 47 percent citywide from 26,757 in 2021 to 39,412 last year, while felony theft incidents rose 32 percent from 14,066 to 18,530.
asserted
incidents → appear → 18,530
However, murders were down 48 percent, from 805 homicides recorded in 2021 compared with 416 last year, reflecting a steady decrease year-on-year.
Robberies were also reduced by 26 percent, from 7,920 in 2021 to 5,827 in 2025.
asserted
Robberies → record → 2025
Johnson was supported by the city council’s democratic socialists during his 2023 mayoral run, and during his term as mayor, he appointed democratic socialists to key positions.
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he → support → positions
However, he has since faced criticism from both moderate and liberal local leaders on issues such as immigration, the local budget and public safety.
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he → face → immigration
His chances of retaining his position as Chicago mayor in the February 2027 election are low – with a recent University of Chicago survey indicating that just 13.6 percent of likely voters want Johnson to run again.
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Johnson → retain → voters
Johnson also faces a crowded field for re-election.
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Johnson → face → election
He is running against candidates including Chicago Housing Authority CEO Matt Brewer, former Chicago alderman George Cardenas and Illinois secretary of state Alexi Giannoulias.
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He → run → state
The incumbent started out as a social studies teacher in the Chicago Public Schools system.
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incumbent → start → system
He helped organize the teacher's strike in 2012 as an active member of the union before entering politics.
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He → help → politics
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