A new citywide poll that concluded Tuesday shows that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s favorability stands at just 26%, while 61% of voters view him unfavorably.  

His job approval is nearly identical, with only 25% approving of the job he is doing and 64% disapproving. Voters have heard about his budget proposals, and they don’t like what they hear, with 26% supporting and 68% opposing.

The poll was part of our organization’s efforts to understand what residents need and want from their city government. Our coalition at One Future Illinois includes civic leaders, labor voices, entrepreneurs and everyday Chicagoans who share a simple belief: that the city functions best when public leadership and private-sector innovation pull in the same direction. While we are aligned with business interests in our commitment to growth, opportunity and fiscal responsibility, our work has been guided by a deeper principle: that the interests of the people are at the forefront of public debate.

That’s why, over the last 15 months, we’ve held listening sessions, commissioned research and conducted on-the-ground outreach to ensure that the voices of Chicagoans are not lost amid the political noise. This poll is part of that effort. Its purpose is to reveal what Chicagoans really think at a moment when the stakes could not be higher. What the poll brings to light is a city that is hungry for solutions, tired of dysfunction and increasingly doubtful that Johnson is prepared to meet this moment.

We surveyed 619 registered voters in Chicago from Dec. 5 to 9. Voters — by a margin of 53% to 24% — also reject the mayor’s head tax proposal. These are not lukewarm reactions. The largest share of voters fall into the “strongly unfavorable” or “strongly disapprove” categories, suggesting deeply held concerns rather than fleeting frustrations. 

This would be troubling for any mayor, but for Johnson, it comes at the precise time when he needs public confidence to guide the city through a contentious budget season. Chicagoans are paying attention. Nearly three-quarters of voters say they have heard at least something about the proposed budget, an unusually high level of awareness for a municipal fiscal debate. After hearing arguments from both the mayor and aldermen, voters find the City Council’s framing more compelling. Concerns about tax burdens, core services and long-term financial stability are driving public sentiment.

Most striking, however, is what voters say about accountability. When asked who they would blame if Chicago fails to pass a budget, a majority of respondents point to the mayor, not the City Council. Fifty-five percent of voters say Johnson would be most responsible, comparedwith just 21% who would fault the council. If the mayor wants to play brinkmanship with a veto? Sixty-two percent of voters oppose Johnson vetoing the alternative budget put forth by members of the council, while only 21% support him. Those margins are not subtle. They represent a decisive shift in public perception about where leadership should come from and who is expected to deliver results. That level of resistance is politically defining. It shows that Chicagoans do not see a veto as an act of principle or prudence, but as an escalation that puts politics above progress.

The message is unmistakable: Chicagoans want their leaders to solve problems, not prolong them, and they believe the responsibility for doing so starts on the fifth floor, not the council chambers.

For One Future Illinois, our mission over the past year has been to highlight the priorities that matter most to residents and to advocate for a city government capable of delivering stability, growth and opportunity. Chicago needs a budget that reflects these values. Businesses need predictable conditions to invest and grow. Families need a city that is safe, functional and responsive. Communities need leaders who can collaborate rather than clash.

The path forward is not mysterious. Chicagoans are calling for cooperation. They want the mayor and City Council to negotiate in good faith, put practical solutions ahead of ideological battles and produce a budget that strengthens the city’s long-term outlook. This is an opportunity for Johnson to recalibrate, to show that he is listening, that he is willing to adjust course and that he understands the trust placed in him by the people he serves.

There is also a warning embedded in the data. Public patience is wearing thin. The political capital that Johnson brought into office has evaporated, and voters no longer assume he is a stabilizing force in city government. If he continues in this moment with confrontation rather than collaboration, the damage could extend far beyond a single budget cycle. Chicago cannot afford a leadership vacuum when it faces significant financial pressures, shifting economic conditions and a need for renewed investment in core services.

Editorial: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s game of budgetary chicken puts Chicago’s future at risk

The City Council, meanwhile, finds itself with unusual public backing. Fifty-six percent of voters prefer the council’s budget to 18% for the mayor’s, even when including an increase in the garbage fee. Voters support its fiscal arguments, trust it more in this specific debate and would reward aldermen for overriding a mayoral veto. This presents a rare moment of alignment between public sentiment and legislative authority and an opportunity to craft a path forward grounded in broad civic consensus. 

At One Future Illinois, we believe the city is strongest when all its sectors — public, private and civic — are pulling in the same direction. The poll results are not a verdict against the mayor; they are a call to action for all of Chicago’s leaders. The people of this city want solutions. They want stability. They want a budget that is responsible, forward-looking and reflective of their concerns.

Chicagoans are watching, and they are asking their leaders, collectively, to rise to the moment.

Michael Ruemmler is president and Jonathan Swain vice president of One Future Illinois NFP.

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/opinion-mayor-brandon-johnson-chicago-budget-poll/