Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Stacy Davis Gates has expressed unequivocal support for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political ambitions. In a recent interview with WTTW News, Gates stated her readiness to gather petition signatures for Johnson’s re-election campaign.
“I hope to see Mayor Johnson come off the sideline and I hope to see the people who support him get out here and pass a petition. If he’s not going to pass one, I’ll pass one for him,” Davis Gates said.
Gates praised Johnson’s financial contributions to the city’s education sector, highlighting his investment of a billion dollars into Chicago Public Schools (CPS), contrasting it with the governor’s failure to fund schools adequately.
The support from the union leader persists despite ongoing criticism regarding Johnson’s strong ties with the CTU and concerns over academic performance issues within CPS. During his mayoral campaign in 2023, Johnson received substantial backing from the CTU, which helped him overcome incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the primary. He went on to defeat Paul Vallas, former CPS CEO, in the runoff.
Financial disclosures analyzed by the Illinois Policy Institute revealed that the CTU contributed more than $2.6 million to Johnson’s 2023 campaign. Overall, teachers unions provided over $6 million in support.
Throughout his tenure, critics have claimed that Johnson’s political agenda is controlled by CTU. Johnson has refuted these claims, stating that his platform aligns with a collective dedication to unifying Chicago around values favored by its residents.
Johnson’s first term saw the implementation of a significant governance shift within CPS. Following state legislation passed in 2021—a key CTU policy goal—Chicago established a hybrid 21-member school board. After November 2024 elections, voters elected 10 board members while Johnson appointed the remaining 11, including the board president. By January 2027, CPS will transition to a fully elected board.
CTU’s political actions come amid CPS struggling with severe enrollment challenges and rising operational expenses. During 2024’s collective bargaining talks, leaked union documents revealed a comprehensive 142-page list of over 700 demands estimated to cost over $50 billion, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.
Among the union’s demands were a 9% annual wage increase, 100% coverage for abortions and fertility treatments, and $2,000 stipends per child for migrant families. CTU also called for climate and social-justice measures such as electric bus fleets and dedicated gender support coordinators in schools.
The union’s prioritization of political and social activism over academic basics has drawn sharp public criticism. Earlier in the year, The Washington Post editorial board criticized CTU’s push for social justice programs in a district with persistently low reading and math proficiency scores.
According to documents obtained by Fox News Digital, CTU has heavily invested in left-wing political causes and opposed federal immigration enforcement activities.
A CTU representative provided a statement from Davis Gates during her interview with WGN9, emphasizing the union’s transparent democratic processes. She refuted doubts regarding the union’s allegiance to Johnson ahead of possible endorsement talks, but acknowledged Johnson will face the union’s political action committee.
“He knows that, as he used to help lead that committee, and he’ll talk to our committee about what it has meant to be mayor—what it meant in the impact of his work, and they’ll make a recommendation, and we’ll take it through our House of Delegates,” Davis Gates said.
She highlighted the union’s commitment to transparency and democracy, stating, “This union operates on the highest level of transparency and democracy… Turns out when you ask people to participate and engage in activities that benefit them, they will do that—because you’ve committed to sharing information, giving them a right to say something, participating in a debate, and ultimately voting for a decision.”
Asked about potentially endorsing another candidate, Davis Gates dismissed the idea, expressing confidence in Johnson’s leadership.
“I don’t even know why that would be a question. The question is: Are members satisfied with a mayor who supported their efforts to get a contract that lower class sizes, that codified the protections for them to teach the truth? Those are the questions that we would be debating and engaging our members on with the mayor of Chicago…” she said.
Mayor Johnson’s office did not respond to requests for comments from Fox News Digital.
Joshua Q. Nelson is a reporter for Fox News Digital, focusing on cultural trends, education, and public policy. He has extensively covered reparations developments, the Department of Education, and immigration issues.