How will Mayor Brandon Johnson sell Chicago — and himself? – Chicago Tribune

Good morning, Chicago.

When Mayor Brandon Johnson steps on stage next week to address the Democratic National Convention, he will have a national spotlight to tell the story of Chicago after a rocky year for his progressive agenda.

Johnson is slated to speak Monday evening at the made-for-TV event and plans to underscore the host city’s successes and significance in the Democratic Party, per sources close to the mayor.

Securing a slot was expected. Democratic host mayors have spoken on the first evening for the last three in-person DNCs, while Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett led the call to order on the second night of the virtual event in 2020.

Monday evening will likely be the most visible moment Johnson gets inside the United Center, where dozens of speakers will be trotted out over four days to cheer on Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination. For his part, the mayor intends to seize the opportunity to pitch Chicago to party bigwigs, out-of-town politicos, business titans, everyday voters, naysayers and other observers — while connecting the city’s liberal values to Harris’s candidacy, per his political team.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Alice Yin.

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