Did Your Mayor Deliver?
We track specific, measurable promises from mayors and city officials in 10 cities. Of 33 promises tracked, 30% were kept, 15% were broken, and the rest are in progress, partially kept, or too early to tell.
Quick answer
The mayors most likely to keep promises are those who set specific, near-term targets with public accountability mechanisms. Denver's Mike Johnston leads with 3 of 4 promises kept, including his House1000 initiative that moved 1,034 people indoors in 100 days. Philadelphia's Cherelle Parker delivered on hiring 300 community police officers and achieving the city's sharpest crime decline in years. The most common broken promises involve ambitious housing targets (LA, SF) and budget pledges (Chicago).
Overall Statistics — 33 Promises Tracked
10
Kept
30% of total
5
Broken
15% of total
8
Partially Kept
24% of total
7
In Progress
21% of total
1
Quietly Dropped
3% of total
2
Too Early
6% of total
City Scorecards
Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
4 promises tracked — 25% kept
New York City
Eric Adams, Mayor
4 promises tracked — 25% kept
Los Angeles
Karen Bass, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 33% kept
Houston
John Whitmire, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 33% kept
Philadelphia
Cherelle Parker, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 67% kept
San Francisco
Daniel Lurie, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 0% kept
Austin
Kirk Watson, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 0% kept
Nashville
Freddie O'Connell, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 33% kept
Denver
Mike Johnston, Mayor
4 promises tracked — 75% kept
Miami
Francis Suarez, Mayor
3 promises tracked — 0% kept
How We Track Promises
Sourcing: We identify specific commitments from campaign platforms, inaugural addresses, State of the City speeches, budget proposals, and press conferences. We prioritize promises with measurable targets — numbers, deadlines, or specific deliverables.
Evidence: We cross-reference outcomes using public data: 311 service request databases, FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Census American Community Survey data, city budget documents, bond reports, and investigative journalism from local outlets.
Verdicts: Each promise receives one of six verdicts based on the evidence:
Cross-referencing: Where possible, we link promise outcomes to CityCheck's own data — safety grades, cost-of-living data, and city services — so you can see the full picture for your city.