Chicago City Wire

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said that he could “hear a little alcohol in the air” at the 2024 American Federation of Teachers Convention held in Houston, Texas.

"I can hear a little alcohol in the air,” he said in his address. “Feels like 8th period on the last day of school in here. Working on that in your union contract so you don't got to sneak it out of your desk."

Johnson was invited to speak on topics impacting teachers like healthcare and contracts. He also spoke about Vice President Kamala Harris during his speech, saying a “transformation means having Kamala Harris in the White House to ensure that a woman is in charge to take control of this jacked up situation in America that only a Black woman knows how to solve.”

He previously endorsed Harris as the Democrat presidential nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on July 21. 

Johnson was elected as mayor of Chicago in 2023 after defeating incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the first round. He ran against fellow Democrat Paul Vallas, whom he defeated to become the 57th Mayor of Chicago.

Johnson is a former teacher in the Chicago Public Schools system and a former organization for the Chicago Teacher’s Union