Chicago City Wire

Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer recently announced that he has endorsed Paul Vallas for mayor of Chicago. 

Sawyer said in a segment on Chicago's Morning Answer, "During the course of the forums, I realized that Paul's answers to serious questions were a lot similar to my answers." 

Sawyer is a well-respected community leader, representing South Side neighborhoods such as Chatham, Chesterfield, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Park Manor and Auburn-Gresham. His backing of Vallas serves as an important indicator of the direction his constituents may lean toward in the closely contested mayoral election.

Since the initial elections, Vallas has garnered numerous high-profile endorsements, including that of former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Alderman Walter Burnett and former Chicago School Board President Gery Chico. These endorsements not only indicate a growing momentum in Vallas' campaign but also highlight his ability to connect with key political stakeholders across different levels of governance and social groups.

Upon receiving Sawyer's endorsement, Vallas graciously thanked him for his trust and support, emphasizing the importance of building a diverse and inclusive coalition of leaders to work collectively for the betterment of Chicago. Vallas went on to state that it is his mission to unify Chicago under a common vision and address the city's pressing concerns while fostering positive growth and development.

In a joint statement announcing the endorsement, Sawyer said, "Paul's commitment to making our city safer and investing in historically underserved communities across the South Side is exactly what Chicago needs." "Alderman Sawyer is one of our city's most respected leaders, and his endorsement is another major boost for our campaign," Vallas said.

With just weeks until the highly anticipated mayoral runoff election in Chicago, a recent survey commissioned by Lake Research Partners showed that candidate Brandon Johnson was holding a five-point lead over Vallas. The study, which was released on March 8 and surveyed 800 likely runoff voters, found that Johnson leads the race with 45% of the vote, followed closely by Vallas at 40%.

The results of the poll showed a notable portion of undecided voters, sitting at 14%, who could very well impact the outcome of the tight race. Additionally, the remaining 1% of voters stated that they would be supporting another candidate not included in the survey.

Considering the margin of error of +/-3.46% in this study, the competition between Johnson and Vallas is still close, with a potential for a shift in voter preference as the election approaches. Campaigns are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as both candidates vie for the position of mayor, attempting to win over the undecided voters and solidify victory.