Progressive Brandon Johnson wins Chicago mayors race

CHICAGO — Brandon Johnson, a county commissioner and former teachers’ union organizer, was elected mayor of Chicago on Tuesday. Johnson takes office next month facing challenges to bring together a city divided by race and a view on how best to quell persistent crime, a subject that loomed over the months-long campaign and set him apart from moderate rival Paul Vallas, who has called for swelling the streets with police. With all but a handful of precincts reporting — but a sizable number of mail ballots left to count — Johnson led Vallas, 51 percent to 49 percent. “Today, we…