Chicago School Board Race Points to an Even Split

Chicago’s first fully elected school board appeared poised to have a roughly equal number of members supported by the Chicago Teachers Union and those who were not, as election results came in on November 3. The balance could shape decisions on school closures, classroom cuts and other measures facing the district.

At 9 p.m., CTU-supported candidates were ahead in nine of the 15 district contests being decided. A candidate supported by Our Schools, a CTU-funded political group, was also ahead. The union did not field candidates in five district races. Results remained incomplete.

Dominguez, the union’s candidate for board president, was behind Biggs, a current board member and former principal. Biggs described herself as a consensus-builder and had support from a broad coalition. She also received $1 million from Michael Sacks and a political group he backed.

Sacks put $6.8 million into the Common Ground Collective over the past two months, and more than $8 million into the races overall. The collective appeared to win three contested races and endorsed five unopposed candidates. CTU-backed candidates were outspent by a margin of four to one.

A nine-member CTU-backed bloc could make it difficult for Biggs to overturn resolutions, which require a two-thirds majority. The current board, half appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and aligned with the union, could consider a moratorium on school closures before incoming members take their seats. The election’s apparent balance also comes as some observers see the school board contest as connected to the city’s mayoral race in February.

Union-Backed Candidates Defy Spending Surge in Chicago Board Race

Chicago voters appeared to deliver a strong showing for teachers’ union-backed school board candidates on November 3, even as wealthy opponents poured millions into the races. The emerging board looked evenly divided, but a union-backed bloc could still mount a formidable defense against school closures and classroom cuts.

CTU-backed candidates led in nine of 15 contested district races at 9 p.m. An additional candidate backed by Our Schools, a CTU-funded political group, was ahead. The union was outspent four to one; Michael Sacks alone put more than $8 million into the races.

Biggs, who was ahead of CTU presidential candidate Hilario Dominguez, received $1 million from Sacks and a group he backed. That group spent $2.6 million opposing Dominguez and aired ads about a misconduct allegation that the school district’s inspector general found unsubstantiated. Biggs did not publicly criticize the ads.

The current board could consider a moratorium on school closures before the incoming board takes office. If CTU-backed members secure nine seats, they could make it harder for Biggs to overturn resolutions requiring a two-thirds majority. The result suggests union backing was not the liability some expected, as voters weighed the influence of wealthy campaign spenders against candidates’ connections to public schools.

Chicago Voters Leave School Board Split After Costly Union Fight

Chicago’s first fully elected school board appeared headed for an even split on November 3, leaving neither the Chicago Teachers Union nor its opponents with an easy path to control the board. The outcome sets up a consequential fight over school closures, classroom cuts and the outgoing board’s final decisions.

CTU-backed candidates led in nine of the 15 contested district races at 9 p.m., while the union’s candidate for board president, Hilario Dominguez, trailed Jessica Biggs. The union did not field candidates in five district races, and results were still coming in.

Biggs, a current board member and former principal who presented herself as a consensus-builder, had received $1 million from Michael Sacks and a political group he backed. Sacks put $6.8 million into the Common Ground Collective over two months; the group appeared to win three contested races and endorsed five unopposed candidates. The CTU was outspent four to one.

The outgoing board, half appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and aligned with the union, could consider a moratorium on school closures before the new board takes over. If CTU-backed members hold nine seats, they could complicate efforts by Biggs to overturn resolutions, which require a two-thirds majority. The close balance puts the focus on whether the outgoing board will act before its members cast their final votes.