Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson's efforts to court young progressive officials and engage with college students and musicians appear to have paid off in the Chicago mayoral race. While older voters still made up the majority of the electorate, young Chicagoans ages 18-24 saw a 30% increase in turnout compared to the February vote, contributing to Johnson's narrow victory over opponent Paul Vallas. Voters ages 24-34 saw a 24% increase in turnout, while voters ages 35-44 saw a 10% increase.

Johnson, who positioned himself as the progressive candidate, sought to win over young voters who grew impatient with old-school activists and were looking for fresh ideas. While only 3.3% of those who cast a ballot were between 18 and 24, campaign organizers attributed the increased turnout to the campaign's efforts to drive up Johnson's name recognition and emphasize that there was a clear contrast in candidates, making clear that every vote mattered. With a majority of voters under 44 years old, it appears that Johnson succeeded in appealing to younger Chicagoans.