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April 4 (UPI) -- Brandon Johnson, who campaigned on his background as a public school teacher, union organizer and Cook County commissioner, will become Chicago's next mayor after winning Tuesday in the city's runoff election against Paul Vallas. Johnson, 46, held 51.45% of the vote Tuesday night, with 98.61% of the precincts reporting. Vallas, 69, who campaigned on a law-and-order message, held 48.55% of the vote.
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Vallas conceded the race Tuesday in a speech to his team.
"It's clear, based on the results tonight, that the city is deeply divided," Vallas said, telling the crowd he has offered to help with the transition.
"I called Brandon Johnson a short time ago to congratulate him on winning this election," Vallas tweeted. "It's critically important that we all come together now and work collaboratively to move our city forward. I thank my supporters and team, and especially my family. Thank you, Chicago."
Shortly after Vallas' concession, Johnson thanked his opponent and declared victory in a speech to his supporters.
"Tonight is just the beginning," Johnson said. "Now Chicago will begin to work for its people."
Chicago's polls closed at 7 p.m., as voters chose their new mayor following Mayor Lori Lightfoot's re-election loss in February. Lightfoot's office issued a statement, saying it stands ready to help with the leadership transition.
"We have communicated to both teams that we stand ready to support the transition, including a meeting between the mayor and the mayor-elect at a mutually agreed upon time," the mayor's office wrote.
Both Vallas and Johnson finished ahead of the incumbent mayor in the Feb. 28 election. Johnson finished second behind Vallas.
On Tuesday, voters going to the polls encountered a number of obstacles as they tried to cast their ballots, including tight security and locked polling locations. Voting was stopped at several school and community voting sites in Lake County after Highland Park schools went into a temporary lockdown following a report of a student "potentially in possession of a gun." There were also reports of severe thunderstorms in some areas.
Johnson touted his background as a public school teacher, union organizer and Cook County commissioner, as he campaigned to fully fund public schools, affordable housing, good jobs and access to mental health care.
Earlier Tuesday, Johnson urged everyone to get out and vote.
"Our canvassing crew hit the streets early today to get out the vote!" Johnson wrote in a tweet.
"We're knocking doors, we're making calls and we're telling everyone we know: this is our moment. This is our time. Let's seize it, and let's win a better, safer, stronger Chicago."
"We are uniting this city," Johnson told reporters after casting his vote Tuesday morning.
"Our promises get to be as large as this city... voting for fully funded neighborhood schools, voting for mental health services, voting for affordability. We are voting for a better, stronger, safer Chicago."
Vallas, who served in the Illinois state legislature for 10 years before becoming Chicago's budget director and later Chicago Public Schools' chief executive officer, campaigned on a law-and-order message, repeatedly calling public safety a "fundamental right" and pledging to "make Chicago the safest city in America."
"So many leaders and trailblazers in the Democratic Party are supporting our campaign because they know that our vision for a safer and more prosperous Chicago is possible if we can come together," Vallas tweeted Monday before the election.
"We need a strong, experienced voice in the mayor's office. Someone who will draw his leadership team from the community and will bring people to the table who will unite the city," Vallas said.
On Tuesday night, congratulations started rolling in for the new mayor, including one from Martin Luther King III.
"Congratulations to Mayor-elect @Brandon4Chicago and thank you, Chicago voters!" King wrote in a tweet. "I know he will lead with conviction and courage and center peace, justice and equity in his administration."
