Chicago Power Poll Survey Results – September 2025
By: Thom Serafin
September 15, 2025
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With fall quickly approaching, Illinois finds itself at the intersection of state politics, national stories, and … e-scooters? Read on to learn more about what our Power Poll members have to say about everything form the statewide Democratic ticket to Pritzker’s approach to Trump.
Key Findings
Bike and E-Scooter Impact on Traffic
Chicago residents remain divided on the impact of shared mobility options on city streets. The largest group (38.33%) believes bikes and e-scooters significantly worsen traffic and safety conditions. However, 34.17% view them as slightly complicating traffic but manageable. A smaller portion sees benefits, with 16.67% saying they improve traffic by reducing car use, while 5% see no significant impact and 5.83% remain unsure.
Democratic Party Ticket Composition
Respondents showed mixed views on including downstate candidates on the Democratic Party’s 2026 statewide ticket. Over one-third (37.5%) believe it’s essential to include downstate representation to appeal to rural voters. Another 31.67% think it could help but isn’t critical. Only 8.33% believe urban voters alone are sufficient to win, while 12.5% express no opinion on ticket geography.
Federal Immigration Enforcement in Chicago
The poll revealed strong opposition to potential National Guard deployment for immigration enforcement in Chicago. Nearly half (48.33%) strongly oppose such deployment, viewing it as federal overreach that violates state sovereignty. Support was more evenly split among those who favor federal involvement: 21.67% strongly support federal assistance, while 20.83% somewhat support coordinated federal help. Only 9.17% somewhat oppose, preferring local law enforcement handle the issues.
Mayor Johnson’s Fiscal Management
Mayor Brandon Johnson received overwhelmingly negative ratings for his handling of Chicago’s fiscal crisis. Three-quarters of respondents (74.58%) rated his performance as “very poor,” saying his approach is making the crisis worse. Another 19.49% rated it as “fair” to “poor,” citing inadequate leadership. Only 3.39% gave a “good” rating and less than 1% rated it “excellent.” The criticism comes as the city faces a $1.15 billion budget deficit for 2026.
Governor Pritzker’s Approach to Trump Administration
Opinion was split on Governor J.B. Pritzker’s confrontational stance toward the Trump administration. More than one-third (35.83%) strongly agree that Illinois needs a governor who will stand up to federal overreach, while 21.67% somewhat agree that resistance is appropriate but should be measured. However, 31.67% strongly disagree, believing the confrontational stance hurts Illinois residents, and 9.17% somewhat disagree, preferring a more collaborative approach.
Final thoughts
The poll results reflect the independent thinking and diverse perspectives of Chicago’s influential Power Poll community. Given the complexity of the issues facing our city, it is more important now than ever for platforms like the Power Poll community that enable open expression of opinions and engagement in the good-faith dialogue that makes Chicago great.
Stay tuned for the next edition of the Chicago Power Poll and don’t forget to give the Power Poll podcast, hosted by Thom Serafin a listen.
Note: The Serafin Power Poll captures the perspectives of regional decision-makers and thought leaders in the Chicago metropolitan area with consistency. While not a scientific survey, it offers a clear and insightful gauge of prevailing sentiments, much like a reliable weathervane tracking the direction of Chicago’s winds.
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