Prairie State Wire

Zoe Leigh, founder of Chicago Flips Red, has criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, stating that his allies acknowledge political fallout and prioritize ideology over accountability, which she says harms schools and families. The statement was made on a provided platform.

"It says a lot when the very people who helped build Brandon Johnson's campaign are now admitting he's damaging their brand," said Leigh. "This is what happens when politics becomes more about ideology than accountability. This administration has failed teachers, parents, and students. Chicago deserves better — not party puppets or ideological experiments, but honest leadership focused on real people and real results."

Since 2023, Chicago's education governance has been undergoing significant changes as the city transitions to a partly elected school board while negotiating a new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). According to Chalkbeat Chicago, Mayor Johnson convened leaders from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and CTU to address disputes concerning pay, staffing, and governance reforms. This move has sparked debate about the union's influence on city education policy and budget priorities.

Student performance in CPS has shown modest improvement but remains inconsistent. According to Kids First Chicago’s 2025 State of CPS Report, only one-third of elementary students met reading standards and one-fifth achieved math proficiency in 2024. Meanwhile, the four-year graduation rate reached 81%, but chronic absenteeism increased to approximately 40%, up from 25% in 2019. These figures highlight ongoing post-pandemic disparities.

CPS spending and staffing have seen significant growth under Mayor Johnson. The Civic Federation’s FY2025 Budget Analysis reports that the district’s total budget increased from $9.4 billion in FY2024 to $9.9 billion in FY2025. Full-time staff numbers rose to nearly 46,000 positions—an increase of more than 6,000 since FY2021—reflecting investments in teachers, support staff, and special education.

Leigh is also co-founder of Chicago Flips Red, a civic organization advocating for conservative engagement in Chicago politics. According to the group's official history page, Leigh leads efforts in advocacy and media outreach focusing on education reform, economic empowerment, and accountability. The organization positions itself as a grassroots alternative to the city's dominant political establishment.

Chicago Flips Red was founded in 2024 with the aim of "empowering communities" through civic engagement and conservative activism. According to its website, it operates through local organizing, media partnerships, and public events concentrating on education, safety, and fiscal responsibility under the leadership of founders Zoe Leigh and Danielle Carter-Walters.