Chicago City Wire

Florian Sohnke, founder of the Chicago Contrarian, said the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is increasingly anxious about the upcoming New York City mayoral race, warning that Mayor Brandon Johnson's record in Chicago may be undermining the union's broader political efforts.

"Mr. Casey's words reveal a mood of panic has overcome the AFT as the NYC mayoral election nears," said Sohnke. "Far from being a fruitful term, Johnson's two years in office have been a thorough disaster. Casey's e-mail also demonstrates the AFT is demoralized, weary, and worried Johnson's failure will cause irreparable harm to Zoran Mamdami's election chances and the prospect of electing pro-AFT candidates nationwide. Most important: The e-mail shows the AFT's general lust for political power."

The 2025 New York City mayoral race has drawn attention from teachers’ unions, with the United Federation of Teachers endorsing Zohran Mamdani. Analysts have compared the campaign’s labor-backed approach to that of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose 2023 election was propelled by the Chicago Teachers Union. According to Jacobin and the UFT, union strategists see Johnson’s tenure as both a model for organizing and a cautionary tale on fiscal balance.

Chicago’s city finances and outcomes under Mayor Brandon Johnson have shown mixed trends. Axios Chicago reports that the city faces a projected $982 million deficit for 2025, while WTTW News notes homicides dropped 32% and shootings 39% in the first half of 2025. Additionally, data from Chicago Public Schools indicate an 84% graduation rate in 2023–24, reflecting progress despite fiscal strain.

The American Federation of Teachers’ 2024–2025 political endorsements produced varied results nationwide. Ballotpedia states that successful candidates included California’s Lateefah Simon in CA-12, while others failed in competitive races. These outcomes highlight uneven returns from union electoral investments and frame strategic recalibration ahead of the 2025 cycle.

Sohnke is a Chicago-based writer and speechwriter focusing on local governance, policing, and civic reform. He contributes essays critiquing city management and has discussed conservative media-building in Chicago on The Prairie State Wire podcast.

Chicago Contrarian, founded in August 2019, is an online publication offering commentary and analysis on Chicago’s politics, economics, and civic life. Its mission is to challenge prevailing narratives in city media and provide space for independent local reporting and commentary.