The poll from M3 Strategies found that nearly 80% of Chicagoans disapproved of Johnson’s job handling the city, with just 6.6% approving and about 12% having no opinion. The poll’s results come as Johnson has been at odds with the city government and has overhauled leadership at Chicago Public Schools. 

When asked to pick three top issues facing Chicago, around two-thirds of respondents said crime was the biggest problem. High taxes and inflation were the other top concerns listed by respondents.

When Johnson entered office in 2023, he vowed to get to the root cause of violent crime in the city. Some violent crimes decreased, including homicides, but armed robberies remained prevalent in certain neighborhoods during his first year in office. 

Once a public school teacher, Johnson has been at odds with leaders at CPS during his time in office. The entirety of the board of Chicago Public Schools resigned late last year amid a dispute between Johnson and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.

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The poll matches one conducted earlier this year from M3 commissioned by the libertarian Illinois Policy Institute that found 80% of Chicago residents had an unfavorable view of Johnson, including 65% saying “very unfavorable.”

Johnson is likely to face primary challengers when he runs for reelection in 2027. According to the same poll, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is in the lead, polling at 27.4%. Paul Vallas, a Democrat who Johnson faced in 2023, is currently polling at 21%.