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Chicago Teachers Union wins half of school board seats but loses presidency

Chicago Teachers Union wins half of school board seats but loses presidency

Rule Changes Chicago, IL local

Union-backed candidates gain a blocking bloc; Jessica Biggs wins board president.

Today: CTU wins six seats, leads in four; Biggs wins presidency

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Chicago voters split control of the city's new 21-member school board. Candidates backed by the Chicago Teachers Union won at least six seats and led in four more as of Wednesday morning. But their candidate for board president, Hilario Domínguez, lost to Jessica Biggs.

The result leaves the union with a likely 10-member bloc, enough to block a two-thirds vote but not to set the agenda. Biggs, a current board member and former principal, will need to assemble a majority from the remaining members. Before the new board takes office Jan. 15, the sitting board could pass a moratorium on school closings.

Why it matters

The board that runs Chicago's public schools will be split, with the teachers union able to block cuts but not set the agenda.

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Key Indicators

6
CTU-backed seats won
As of Nov. 4, union-backed candidates had won six of 21 seats.
4
CTU-backed leads
Union-backed candidates led in four more races Wednesday morning.
21
School board seats
The board has 20 district seats and one president.
$6.8M
Sacks donation to Common Ground
Michael Sacks put $6.8 million into the group in two months.
4-to-1
Spending ratio
CTU-backed candidates were outspent by about four to one.

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People Involved

Jessica Biggs
Jessica Biggs
President-elect of the Chicago Board of Education
Won board presidency on Nov. 4, 2026
HD
Hilario Domínguez
Chicago Teachers Union deputy political director, on leave
Lost board presidency to Jessica Biggs
MS
Michael Sacks
Billionaire and former adviser to Rahm Emanuel
Major donor against CTU-backed candidates
 Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson
Mayor of Chicago
Half of current school board is appointed by him

Organizations Involved

CT
Chicago Teachers Union
Teachers union
Backed six winning candidates and led in four more.

The union represents teachers in Chicago Public Schools and is a major political force in city elections.
Common Ground Collective
Common Ground Collective
Political group
Spent $6.8 million; won three contested races.

A political group funded by Michael Sacks that opposed CTU-backed school board candidates.
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
School district
Faces budget pressure and a split board.

The third-largest school district in the United States, serving Chicago students.
Chicago Board of Education
Chicago Board of Education
School board
New 21-member board takes office Jan. 15, 2027.

The governing body of Chicago Public Schools.

Timeline

1 event Latest: Today

  1. CTU wins six seats, leads in four; Biggs wins presidency

    Today Election

    Union-backed candidates won six of 21 seats and led in four more. Jessica Biggs defeated Hilario Domínguez for board president.

Scenarios

1

Biggs builds a working majority and passes a budget

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Chicago Sun-Times reporting on the board's two-thirds threshold

Biggs needs 11 votes to pass a budget and set the agenda. If she holds the non-CTU members and wins one or two CTU-backed votes, the board can avoid a standoff. The first test is the fiscal 2027 budget.

2

CTU bloc blocks budget, forces school-closing moratorium

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Chicago Sun-Times reporting on the 10-member CTU bloc

A 10-member CTU-aligned bloc cannot pass its own agenda, but it can block a two-thirds vote. If it holds together, it can stop budget cuts or force concessions on closures.

3

Sitting board passes school-closing moratorium before leaving office

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Chicago Sun-Times reporting on the December board meeting

The current board, half appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and aligned with the CTU, meets in December. It could approve a moratorium on school closings, tying the new board's hands.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

September 2012

Chicago Teachers Union strike (2012)

Chicago teachers went on strike for the first time in 25 years. The walkout closed schools for seven days and ended with a contract that included raises and limits on class size.

Then

The union won some classroom protections but faced public frustration over the disruption.

Now

The strike cemented the CTU's role as a political force in Chicago.

Why this matters now

The union's ability to turn members into voters is central to this school board election.

2013

Chicago school closings (2013)

Chicago's school board voted to close dozens of schools, mostly on the South and West Sides. The decision displaced thousands of students and drew protests.

Then

The closures went ahead despite union and community opposition.

Now

The episode became a rallying point for CTU-backed candidates who want a moratorium on future closings.

Why this matters now

The current board could pass a moratorium before the new board takes office.

Sources

(1)
Chicago Sun-Times