Chicago School Board President Candidates Make Final Push in Historic Election
Voters chose a board that will control CPS’s nearly $10 billion budget, with more than $6 million spent in the race, officials said.
- On Tuesday, Chicago voters elected former school principal Jessica Biggs as the first-ever president of the Board of Education, capturing roughly 50% of the vote in a three-way race and ending 30 years of mayoral control.
- Governance shifted away from mayoral control as the incoming board assumes responsibility for a nearly $10 billion budget and a $732 million deficit the outgoing board attempted to close with unconfirmed state funding.
- Nearly $9 million in spending fueled the race, with $5.2 million spent on the presidential contest alone as billionaire Michael Sacks funneled millions into groups opposing Chicago Teachers Union-backed Hilario Dominguez.
- Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidates led in nine of 20 district seats, providing a potential bloc that could oppose Biggs on budget cuts and school closure decisions.
- The new, fully elected board assumes office on January 15, 2027, immediately confronting a $732 million deficit and setting a vision for Chicago Public Schools' next four years.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Here's How Chicago Voted On Millionaires Tax, Public Fairgrounds And Other Non-Binding Ballot Questions
Chicago voters also overwhelmingly supported restoring gunshot detection technology and seeking compensation from the Trump administration in the aftermath of Operation Midway Blitz.
Chicago Board of Education live election results: Who's winning inaugural seats
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey, right, speak on Aug. 24, 2022, at Schuler Farms in Lexington, Illinois, during the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Polls Closed in Historic Three-Way Race to Become Chicago’s First Elected Board of Education President
Polls Closed in Historic Three-Way Race to Become Chicago’s First Elected Board of Education President Matt Masterson Tue, 11/03/2026 - 19:00 Polls are closed in the historic three-way race to become Chicago’s first-ever elected Board of Education president. Current board member Jessica Biggs, former Chicago Teachers Union political director Hilario Dominguez and trial attorney Victor Henderson are the three candidates squaring off in Tuesday’s…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
