CTU leads in 10 Chicago school board seats despite massive spending gap

The Chicago Teachers Union held leads in ten of the twenty Chicago Public Schools board seats as of 9 p.m. Tuesday results. This included nine district seats and one at-large seat. The union appears poised to block major cuts even if it loses the board presidency.

Michael Sacks, a billionaire and former mayor's adviser, poured $6.8 million into the race through his group Common Ground Collective. He also invested over $8 million personally. The CTU was outspent by a 4-to-1 margin. Despite the financial gap, CTU-backed candidates remained in the lead in most contested races.

Jessica Biggs, the current board member and former principal, led the race for board president. She was not formally endorsed by Common Ground Collective, though she received $1 million from Sacks and the group. Hilario Dominguez, the CTU's candidate for president, trailed Biggs at the 9 p.m. Mark.

If the CTU secures nine seats and Biggs wins the presidency, the union would lack the two-thirds majority needed to override board resolutions. The current board, which includes members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, could vote on a moratorium for school closings before the new term begins on Jan. 15, 2027.

Karen Zaccor, a retired teacher and incumbent in District 4a, said voters rarely mentioned her CTU endorsement during door knocking. She received $34,000 from the CTU-funded group Our Schools. Anti-CTU groups spent more than $700,000 against her or for her opponent. Zaccor was leading the race in her district.

Connie Anderson, a newcomer running for District 10b, was also ahead as of 9 p.m. She raised significantly less money than her opponent, Patrick Watson, a legislative aide. Watson received about $500,000 from anti-CTU groups, while Anderson received a smaller amount from Our Schools. Anderson said working-class families supported her message on equitable schools.

The district budget remains a central issue. The board voted in July for a budget that relied on $150 million in uncommitted state revenue. The legislature has not approved this money. If the funding does not arrive, the new board may face staff furloughs or layoffs to close the district's deficit.