Chicago Board Election: $8.7 Million Spent on President Race, 21 Seats Up for Grabs Tuesday

Voters in Chicago will elect all 21 members of the Chicago Board of Education on Tuesday, ending decades of mayoral control over the district’s leadership.

The Chicago Public Schools system serves 304,000 students and manages a budget of $10 billion. The board holds voting power over contracts, property taxes, and school closures. A board president position, which sets meeting agendas and shapes district policy, is also up for election citywide.

Campaign activity has intensified in the days leading up to the vote. Candidates have reported increased door-knocking, flyer distribution, and presence at polling sites. Anthony Hargrove, a candidate in District 5B, described the final push as focused on meeting neighbors and monitoring polls. He faces incumbent Michilla Blaise, who holds the endorsement of the Chicago Teachers Union.

Two distinct political camps are competing for a majority of the 21 seats. One group is backed by the progressive CTU and Mayor Brandon Johnson. The opposing group consists of candidates supported by pro-school-choice organizations, including Common Ground Collective and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Most current board members align with the CTU, largely due to appointments made by Mayor Johnson in 2024. The union has endorsed candidates in 15 of the contested races, a limitation that complicates its path to an 11-member majority.

Money has played a central role in the campaign, particularly in district-level races. Super PACs affiliated with Common Ground and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools have spent more than $4.6 million against CTU-backed candidates. In the citywide race for board president, nearly $8.7 million has been raised and spent among three contenders: Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez, and Victor Henderson.

Jessica Biggs, the current board member, has raised $1.85 million since the previous fall. Her funding includes $1 million from billionaire donor Michael Sacks and support from SEIU. Hilario Dominguez, a former CTU deputy political director, has raised $1.75 million, primarily from the CTU and its associated PAC. Victor Henderson, an attorney, has raised $737,000, mostly from his own funds. Common Ground and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools have targeted Dominguez specifically, spending $3.1 million on advertisements against him.

In District 10A, incumbent Che "Rhymefest" Smith is listed on the ballot but faces a write-in challenge from Tameka Walton. Smith, a Grammy-winning rapper, stated that he is treating the write-in as a serious opponent. He is focusing on community events and digital advertising. Walton, a nonprofit executive, said her campaign is using volunteers to canvass and staff early voting sites. She noted that while many residents are aware of the citywide president race, fewer are familiar with the specific district-level contests.

Public awareness of the election has risen since May. A recent poll sponsored by the Chicago Public Education Fund found that 77% of voters are aware of the school board election, up from 59% in May. However, only one-third of the 1,062 registered voters surveyed identified their current board representative. Nelson Gerew, the fund’s chief of internal and public affairs, noted that the school board races appear near the bottom of the ballot and expressed hope that voters will cast ballots for all seats.

In District 2B on the North Side, candidate Kyna Lenhof stated that engagement with public schools remains high. She noted that many candidates, including herself, are first-time office seekers. Her opponent, incumbent Debby Pope, a retired teacher endorsed by the CTU, has lived in the district for 46 years. Pope said she is spending her final campaign days at polling sites where early voting turnout is high. She reported that dozens of residents identified her as their candidate during a recent visit to the Broadway Armory polling site.