(CNSNews.com) - Brandon Johnson, the more "progressive" candidate, will be the next mayor of Chicago, winning the runoff race on Tuesday with 51 percent of the vote (286,647 votes) to Paul Vallas' 49 percent (270,775 votes).

Johnson appeared on CNN's "This Morning," where anchor Don Lemon pressed him on Chicago's main problem, which Lemon described as "crime, crime, crime."

Johnson, in response, talked about "investments," "leaning into what works," "a more holistic approach," and being "smart about it."

"It's a testament to us as Democrats that we do not have to be afraid of leaning into what works, and what we do know, if we want to prevent crime," Johnson said.

"We have to hire young people and invest in them. There's a direct correlation between youth employment and violence reduction. There's a direct correlation between investing in mental health care-related services, mental health professionals and violence reduction. There is a direct correlation between affordable housing and good-paying jobs."

Johnson has talking about hiring 200 new detectives. "Is that enough?" Don Lemon asked him.

"Well, again, it's a comprehensive approach. If we are just simply looking at putting more money into policing -- that has demonstrated to be a strategy that is certainly shortsighted."

Johnson noted that he lives "in one of the most violent neighborhoods" in Chicago:

"And so what I want for my family, which is a better, stronger, safer community, I want that for every single family across the city of Chicago.

"And what Chicagoans said overwhelmingly is that we have to get at the root causes of crime. Certainly 200 more detectives that are properly trained to help solve crime, but we also have to make sure that we're investing in what works, which is making sure that we are actually adhering and enforcing the laws that are already on the books, like the red flag laws.

"I mean, these are situations where individuals who have guns should not have them. We don't manufacture guns in the City of Chicago, but yet they flow through our streets, and they've caused incredible havoc.

“And so the comprehensive approach that we have put forth is something that the City of Chicago overwhelmingly embraced, and again, it's a testament to what can happen around the country.

"We don't have to be afraid, Don, of our values. We don't have to worry about the personal attacks or the attacks from the Republican Party, you know, claiming that we're going to defund the police. 

“You know, we can lean into our values and actually not just have this tough response to how we approach...we have to be smart about it."

Johnson said his "straightforward message" is to "invest in people without placing the burden on working families, and that's what I'm looking forward to doing once I'm sworn in, in another 30 days."

Holding police accountable

Johnson's campaign website calls for a "new strategy for public safety," which means investing in "community-based interventions that de-escalate conflict, reduce violence and make our neighborhoods safer."

Johnson said he will create an Office of Community Safety, reopen the city’s mental health clinics, fully fund year-round youth employment, and foster partnerships between communities and law enforcement.

He said he will direct the Chicago Police Department to increase its homicide clearance rate and he "will work closely with the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to hold police accountable and evaluate the goals and performance of the CPD.

Johnson wants to remove "the flawed gang database" and "reduce inefficiencies in public safety spending, and direct more funds to violence prevention and community safety programming that address the root causes of community violence."

"And my administration will attack these root causes of crime and poverty by investing in the basics: good schools, good jobs, housing and mental health," his campaign website says.