Former CBS 2 anchor Brad Edwards joins John Kelly's mayoral campaign
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Former CBS 2 anchor Brad Edwards is jumping into Chicago politics, signing on to help mayoral candidate John Kelly make his case to voters.
The latest: Edwards tells Axios he's joining Kelly's campaign as chief communications strategist.
What he's saying: "It's a different ballgame, but the same ballgame all at once," Edwards tells Axios about moving from journalism to political communications.
Why it matters: Edwards is one of the most recognizable Chicago media figures to join the burgeoning 2027 campaign apparatus, as candidates begin staffing up for the crowded race.
Zoom out: The different teams taking shape illustrate how political communications are changing heading into the 2027 mayoral race.
- While Kelly is turning to a familiar face from traditional Chicago media, Brandon Johnson recently hired progressive influencer Rachel Cohen to lead communications at City Hall for his re-election bid.
- Alexi Giannoulias has assembled a slew of veteran political advisers, including campaign spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh, who previously served as Gov. JB Pritzker's spokesperson.
- And Rep. Mike Quigley is leaning on longtime ally and former Chicago Ald. Tom Tunney, who chairs his mayoral campaign committee.
Follow the money: Some campaigns can afford to bulk up more than others, based on how much they've raised, according to a study released by the Institute for the Public Good. Here are the top five candidates that have raised the most money so far:
- Alexi Giannoulias: $22.2 million
- Brandon Johnson: $3.5 million
- John Kelly: $2.5 million
- Susana Mendoza: $2.3 million
- Joe Holberg: $1.2 million
Yes, but: The totals include money raised since the 2023 mayoral runoff, not just contributions for the 2027 mayoral race.
The intrigue: The emerging teams reflect very different strategies for reaching Chicago voters.
- Johnson announced his re-election campaign with a social media reel of himself dancing, while Giannoulias has flooded more traditional airwaves with ads.
The bottom line: The candidates may be the ones on the ballot, but the people behind them will help determine how Chicagoans see — and hear — them over the next five months.