Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson elected to first full term in office

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson won a full four-year term in office Tuesday, April 2, in the 2024 spring election.

Johnson had previously won the election to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by former Mayor Tom Barrett, who resigned to accept a position as US Ambassador to Luxembourg.

This marks the first time in city history that a person of color won a full term as mayor.

At a watch party Tuesday night hosted at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, Johnson thanked supporters for entrusting him with another four years in office.

He told the crowd, "Well, my dear friends and magnificent fellow citizens of this magnificent city that we love, called Milwaukee, guess what? We did it!"

Johnson reflected on the past two years, calling it a "remarkable journey," but then said the journey has just begun.

He talked about continuing the work of making the city's streets safer, lowering crime rates, and raising Milwaukee's profile on the national stage.

But he quickly pivoted from local politics to national politics. In a forceful speech, Johnson implored Milwaukee to re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris this November. He said that while it always seems like Wisconsin is having an election, the upcoming race is the most important.

Johnson said, "Milwaukee must show up, and Milwaukee must show out, to firmly declare to the nation that we choose democracy, and we choose freedom over autocracy and division, and we will show up to vote for it."

Johnson shook hands and took pictures with supporters for more than an hour after declaring victory.

When we asked him if his mindset will be different now that he has a full four-year term ahead of him, Johnson said no, but he is reinvigorated and ready to get to work.