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Mixed results for CTU as Chicagoans vote for first elected school board

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Published  November 6, 2024 12:29pm CST
Chicago School Board
FOX 32 Chicago

A backlash against the mayor: Chicagos historic school board election results

Chicago made history with its first-ever school board election, a high-stakes and costly race fueled by millions of dollars from the Chicago Teachers Union.

The Brief

    • Chicago's first elected school board took shape after a highly contested election involving significant spending and endorsements from both the Chicago Teachers Union and charter school supporters.
    • While four CTU-backed candidates won, the results were mixed, with the union facing both victories and setbacks.
    • Mayor Brandon Johnson retains the power to appoint 11 more members until the board is fully elected in 2027, leaving the future of CPS leadership uncertain.

CHICAGO - Chicago made history with its first-ever school board election, a high-stakes and costly race fueled by millions of dollars from the Chicago Teachers Union.

Chicago's first school board elected by the residents is taking shape. It pit big spending special interests like the Chicago Teachers Union against charter school companies. The results were a mixed bag.

Starting with District 1, the winners or those who are ahead include Jennifer Custer, Ebony DeBarry, Carlos Rivas, Ellen Rosenfeld, Aaron "Jitu" Brown, Jessica Biggs, Yesenia Lopez, Angel Gutierez, Theres Boyle and Che "Rhymefest" Smith. Three independent candidates say voters sent a message to CTU and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Tuesday night's election results were a repudiation of taxes by the City of Chicago, people wanting independent candidates on the board.

"I'm a reasonable person. I hope being reasonable, we can push forward an agenda that cares for the kids," Rosenfeld said.

Rivas added, "How are we building authentic community engagement in the neighborhood and not just downtown at the board meeting?"

CTU-endorsed candidates won four of the 10 districts despite the union spending more than $2 million. Veteran Chicago political consultant Frank Calabrese said it was a poor return on investment.

"They kind've went out with a whimper," Calabrese said. "They didn't have great victories this time."

"I would personally attribute that to a backlash against the mayor. So in areas I would consider CTU strongholds, like Logan Square, they lost that election," he said.

Chicago's first elected school board comes into focus after election

The makeup of Chicago's first elected school board is coming into view.

But CTU President Stacy Davis Gates considers the night a win, especially since Johnson will appoint 11 additional board members next year.

"Project 2025-aligned billionaires lost big in Chicago," Davis Gates said in a statement. "Despite all they invested to block our union’s vision for public schools, they won’t be able to stop Chicago’s commitment to finally delivering for communities who have been told to go without for generations."

The new board will eventually have to contend with Chicago Public Schools' budget problems and the future of CEO Pedro Martinez, who refused Johnson's request that he resign.