Chicago City Wire

Chicago Republican Chairman Stephen "Steve" Boulton said Brandon Johnson supporters are behind an illegal campaign sign drive in which Paul Vallas signs have been created and distributed bearing a “MAGA 2024” logo. 

Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, and Cook County Commissioner for the 1st District Johnson are facing off for Chicago mayor. The signs have been printed with Vallas’s name on them and a MAGA (Make America Great Again) logo, despite Vallas’s longtime affiliation with Democrats. 

“Brandon Johnson’s campaign needs to keep the GOP out of their sleazy election tactics,” Boulton said in a press release. “That goes double when it involves a racial dog whistle.” 

The Chicago GOP Chairman added that "Republicans have deep concern over the radical platform of Brandon Johnson and his overlords in the CTU leadership, which will ruin Chicago by taking it down the path of cities like San Francisco, but we do not view Mr. Vallas as a Republican and have issued criticism on several aspects of his proposals.” The GOP is earnestly trying to change the game in Chicago.  

“The era in which the Republican Party has been without impact in Chicago is coming to an end. Impact in Chicago can reverberate across Illinois in statewide elections,” Boulton said.

The Johnson campaign has been accused of engaging in dirty tricks prior to the April 4 election. Community members have been enraged by the phony yard signs. 

“These are the signs CTU/CORE are putting out to Fool the Black community?” Rosita Chatonda said on Facebook. “They play on our lack of critical thinking. Why would these signs only go in Black communities and the Vallas camp was supposed to be putting MAGA signs out to hurt their own campaigns. BLACK PEOPLE DONT LET THE COMMUNIST LEFTIST PLAY YOU FOR A F.O.O.L. LET THEM KNOW WE ARE NOT AS UNDEREDUCATED AS THEY THINK.”

Chicago Public Schools is also investigating several reports of students being bussed to polling places and told to vote for Johnson. Ald. Ray Lopez said there have been "reports from 15th Ward EV site at Gage Park that large groups of students were brought in there, many trying to register & vote despite some not being of age." According to a previous Chicago City Wire report, NBC’s Mary Ann Ahern also noted Lindblom teachers took students to Early Voting and encouraged them to vote” for Johnson.

Boulton opined neither candidate is close to being a Republican. 

“Contrary to some campaign literature, Republicans view neither Runoff candidate as one of their own,” he said. 

Boulton further wrote “Republicans instead note that both candidates speak of being Mayor of the entire city, when by their words that plainly that does not include Republicans, despite the Republican vote being 15-20 percent in Chicago, sometimes higher. We return to the same Republican issues raised in an earlier Opinion published on January 8, 2023.”

The phony Vallas signs are alleged to have changed polling results.

A very recent Facebook post called on Vallas supporters. It warned them to "be aware of a smear campaign targeting Vallas as a MAGA Republican." The post which came from Tara Garrison Nestor further noted, "There are yard signs and flyers all over the south and west side of the city, intended to diminish his reputation. Paul is a recorded Democrat with a strong plan to address the most pressing needs of the city of Chicago. He recently received endorsements from career Democrats Dick Durbin, Jesse White, Bobby Rush - and many others. This is a distraction technique. Your vote counts now more than ever."