Rahm Emanuel is definitely not the teachers’ pet.

The mayor faces a runoff election in April vs. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, partially because of the power of the Chicago Teachers Union. The CTU flexed its muscles last week, causing a black eye for the mayor and forcing runoffs in not just the mayor’s race, but in 19 wards as well.

“We have black, brown and white. This is a broad coalition we have formed,” said Brandon Johnson, deputy political director for the Chicago Teachers Union. “Our effort continues to express the needs of Chicago.”

Compare the 2015 election results for the mayor with his 2011 election results and then with an overlay of the 49 schools announced for closing. No need to call Sherlock Holmes in because there is no mystery here. Emanuel lost the most support in areas where schools were shuttered.

Johnson said that is not a surprise because Emanuel does not have working families on his radar.

Johnson said the CTU has become a voice, not just for teachers, but for working families in the city.

“The mayor has made it clear that he is going to release an all-out assault on working people and black families,” Johnson said. “It has become apparent that teachers need to stand up and defend working families and poor families.

“This mayor has eliminated public housing, public schools and livable wages. He has not made the commitment for people to feel safe in the city. It became obvious that educators had to do something.”

Johnson noted that CTU President Karen Lewis said that the political landscape in the city needed to be changed, but her warning fell on deaf political ears. Now, history has been made and Garcia becomes an increasingly popular alternative to Emanuel’s style of leadership.

The CTU spokesman said individuals in the union are humbled by the support residents have shown for the cause.

“We recommend that everyone in the city look at Downtown. The lights are on Downtown. The lights are bright Downtown,” Johnson said. “But in our neighborhoods, there are shadows and it’s dark. There is 30 percent unemployment in the black community.

“People are at or just below the poverty line. The mayor can spend $100 million for a stadium and we have neighborhoods that don’t have a grocery store.”

Johnson said the CTU’s message resonated across the city, noting that the idea of an elected school board – on the ballot in 37 wards – earned a resounding “yes,” including in the mayor’s own ward.

He said the national spotlight is now on the Chicago race and that Garcia has a great chance to be the city’s first Mexican-American mayor. Johnson said Garcia will speak for all residents, not “the select few that bought this mayor.”

“(Emanuel) tried to buy the election the first time,” Johnson said. “Of course, he is going to try to buy it again.”

Johnson said that the city’s top leader needs to be more resident-focused than media-focused.

“We can’t have a mayor more concerned with photo ops and ribbon-cuttings than people dying in the streets,” he said.

Johnson said Emanuel’s effort to rally troops on his behalf will be matched step for step by the CTU.

“We will knock on doors and get back to work (for Garcia),” Johnson said. “This mayor has failed miserably. He wants to rewrite the last four years, but you can’t rewrite mental health facilities being closed and schools being shuttered.”

Neither the Emanuel nor Garcia campaign offices responded to requests for interviews for this story.