Mix of CTU-Endorsed, Charter School-Backed and Independent Candidates

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

For the first time in Chicago’s 187-year history, Chicago voters went to the polls Tuesday to elect members of the Chicago Board of Education.

The results of the hard-fought and expensive races will usher in a new era for the 325,000 students who attend Chicago Public Schools — and serve as a referendum on the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teacher, and the Chicago Teachers Union.

With more than 90% of precincts counted in most of the 10 districts as of 10:30 p.m., four candidates backed by CTU were leading their opponents or had won, according to early returns. In two races, the candidate backed by advocates for charter schools led, while in four races independent candidates led, according to early returns.

The new board that takes office in January will end nearly 30 years of complete mayoral control that began in 1995 under former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Before that, community members would nominate school board members, with the mayor having the final say.

But Johnson will still have a great deal of control of the school board, at least until 2027.

The legislation approved by General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, despite the objections of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, divides Chicago into 20 school board districts, with voters in each district electing a representative and the president of the board.

That means the current seven-member board, whose members are all appointed to the mayor will transform into a 21-member board elected by Chicago’s voters.

But in this first school board election, the city is divided into just 10 districts. The winners of those races will take office in January, alongside 10 members — and the board president — appointed by Johnson.

But Johnson faces a complicated task, since his picks must live on the opposite side of each school board district from their elected counterpart.

Those board members will all serve for at least two years, when Chicagoans will be asked to elect 20 school board members, one from each district, to serve either a two-year or four-year term. The race for school board president will be decided by a citywide race, with a four-year term starting Jan. 15, 2027, up for grabs.

The nearly two dozen candidates on the ballot have raised nearly $4.5 million, with the bulk of that money coming from two sources: the Chicago Teachers Union and groups that want to see the expansion of charter schools in Chicago. Advocates for charters have outspent the union by approximately $1 million, records show.

In District 1, Jennifer Custer is facing off against Michelle N. Pierre. Custer has the CTU endorsement, while Pierre is backed by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. With 95% of precincts tallied, Custer held a lead of 3 percentage points, according to early returns.

In District 2, four candidates are on the ballot: Ebony L. DeBerry, Margaret “Maggie” Cullerton Hooper, Kate Doyle and 50th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Bruce Leon. DeBerry is endorsed by CTU, while charter advocates have not endorsed any of her rivals. With 96% of precincts tallied, DeBerry was leading all of the other candidates, according to early returns.

In District 3, Jason C. Dónes is facing off against Carlos A. Rivas Jr. Dónes has the backing of CTU, while Rivas is backed by charter school advocates. With 92% of precincts tallied, Rivas was leading Dónes, according to early returns.

In District 4, six candidates are on the ballot: Kimberly Brown, Andrew A. Davis, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa, Ellen Rosenfeld and Karen Zaccor. Zaccor is endorsed by CTU, while charter advocates have not endorsed any of her rivals. With 94% of the vote tallied, Rosenfeld was leading the other candidates, according to early returns.

In District 5, Aaron “Jitu” Brown is the only candidate on the ballot. He is backed by CTU. The Associated Press declared Brown the winner of the race shortly after polls closed, based on early returns.

In District 6, three candidates are on the ballot: Jessica Biggs, Andre Smith and Anusha Thotakura. Thotakura has the endorsement of the CTU, while Smith is backed by charter advocates. With 85% of precincts tallied, Biggs was leading the other candidates, according to early returns. 

In District 7, three candidates are on the ballot: Raquel Don, Eva A. Villalobos and Yesenia Lopez. Lopez is backed by the CTU, and Villalobos is supported by charter school advocates. With 97% of the precincts in, Lopez was leading the other candidates, according to early returns.

In District 8, Angel Gutierrez is facing off against Felix Ponce. Ponce is endorsed by CTU, while charter advocates have endorsed Gutierrez. With 91% of the precincts tallied, Gutierrez led Ponce, according to early returns.

In District 9, four candidates are on the ballot: Therese Boyle, Lanetta M. Thomas, La’Mont Raymond Williams and Miquel Lewis. Thomas is the CTU-endorsed candidate, while charter advocated back Lewis. With 81% of the vote precincts in, Boyle was leading the other candidates, according to early returns.

In District 10, four candidates are on the ballot: the Rev. Robert Jones, Karin Norington-Reaves, Adam Parrott-Sheffer and Che “Rhymefest” Smith. Jones is backed by CTU, while charter advocates back Norington-Reaves. With 83% of precincts tallied, Smith led Norington-Reaves by 2 percentage points, according to early returns.

Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | [email protected] | (773) 569-1863

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