Newly elected U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson has officially endorsed Chicago mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson. Citing Johnson's efforts to bring together the progressive political and labor movement, the endorsement could split the support of Chicago's left-leaning voters, who had previously been firmly in Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's camp. While Garcia only recently declared he would run, he has been a long time fixture in Chicago politics.

Jackson, the son of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., claimed that Garcia's tardy entry into the race—after the Chicago Teachers Union had already nominated CTU organizer Johnson—forced him to make an easy decision.

Jackson told the Chicago Sun-Times that while he’s a “friend and ally” to Garcia, “It was just a matter of timing. He came in a little bit later. And Brandon was already in motion. I shared that with Chuy, as well.”

Giving high praise to Garcia, it came down to similarities for Jackson. Both spent time opposing former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to close a record 50 Chicago public schools. Jackson told the Sun-Times, “We’ve both been educators, teachers. I’ve worked most closely with Brandon in these communities for a longer period of time. I know his pain,” Jackson said.

“We’ve been activists together. I’ve seen his rise from activist to legislator. He’s had his eye on this for a long time. I share Brandon’s vision. I share his enthusiasm and commitment. We basically come out of the same tradition of being activists and now legislators. Brandon can take this ultimate leap over to being the executive of the city of Chicago.”

The 66-year-old Garcia told the Sun-Times he’s confident he can force Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot (or whoever may be his ultimate opponent) into a runoff and that the progressive voters will support him.

“Folks know me. … They know what I’ve done. I know we will eventually get their support. I’m the only guy left from the Harold Washington coalition. ... No one in Chicago politics today has been involved in fighting the old corrupt and racist and sexist Chicago machine [longer] than myself.”

Jackson wouldn’t be pinned down about whether he is prepared to throw his support behind Garcia if Johnson fails to make the runoff.

“Chuy’s a dear friend. We’ll cross that bridge once we get there,” Jackson said.

Johnson said he has known the younger Jackson for more than a decade, admired Jackson Sr. for a lifetime and was truly “humbled” by Jonathan’s support.

“To have the support of … the son of a civil rights icon [who] ushered in the progressive movement before it was even called the progressive movement — that means there is a growing chorus of progressive leaders, civil rights leaders that recognize that my candidacy is not just strong. More and more people are convinced that Chicago is better off having someone who can build and bring a coalition together,” Johnson said.

Johnson claims he’s realizing the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. of seeing the labor and civil rights movements "collide" into a potent political force. He enjoys the support of progressives and labor, particularly the CTU, the American Federation of Teachers, SEIU Local 73, and SEIU Healthcare.