From 2% to 52%: How Chicago Mayor-Elect Johnson Won...with Brandon Davis, Lead Media Strategist & Partner, Technicolor Political

Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Brandon Davis is a media consultant and partner at Technicolor Political – and the senior media strategist for the winning campaign of Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson. In this conversation, we go deep on the Chicago race – how Johnson emerged from a crowded field, the role of public safety & crime, the contrasts that defined the runoff, key strategic decisions made by both Johnson & Vallas, & political lessons that can apply to other races and places. Beyond Chicago, we also talk Brandon’s political roots in the Midwest and insights from a career as a campaign manager, SEIU political director, DNC Chief of Staff, & now a top Democratic media consultant.
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IN THIS EPISODE

Brandon’s early life growing up in East St. Louis, IL…

The two moments that motivated Brandon toward civic engagement…

Brandon’s time working for Senator Claire McCaskill…

Brandon de-mystifies what a campaign’s Political Director does…

Brandon’s experience running races and rules of thumb on effective campaign managing…

Lessons learned running $80M campaigns for SEIU…

Brandon’s role as DNC Chief of Staff during the tumultuous 2016 cycle…

What motivated Brandon to move into media consulting & start Technicolor Political…

Brandon talks the political strengths of Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson…

Why Mayor Lightfoot struggled…

Brandon on the role public safety and the "Defund the Police" narrative played in the race…

How Johnson broke from the pack after starting at 2% and then handled a sprint in the 5-week runoff…

Strategic decisions of the Paul Vallas campaigns that surprised Brandon…

Brandon’s breaks down the winning Johnson coalition…

Lessons from Chicago 2023 that can be applied more broadly in 2024…

Best practices on finding ways to communicate with hard-to-reach voters…

Brandon’s advice to budding political operatives…

AND the 5th floor, JJ Balaban, banks of TVs, big tents, Donna Brazile, George W. Bush, CTU, Cabrini-Green, captive audiences, Jean Carnahan, Mel Carnahan, George Washington Carver, Hillary Clinton, cudgels, WEB Du Bois, Fisk University, Chuy Garcia, Gen X lifestyles, Al Gore, gymnast techniques, Bob Holden, Hurricane Katrina, Jesse Jackson, John Kerry, Jim Kottmeyer, Rebecca Lambe, Mary Landrieu, Barack Obama, Greg Pratt, Ronald Reagan, sledgehammers, Snapchat, Jim Talent, Talladega College, Roy Temple, TikTtok, Donald Trump, Tuskegee University, the University of Missouri, vicissitudes, Wendi Wallace, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Youtube…& more!