The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has endorsed 15 candidates for the 21 positions on the city’s Board of Education. This endorsement includes a blend of mayoral picks and new political faces, all gearing up for the November election.
In the remaining six races, CTU found no candidates who shared its values, four of these being uncontested. This list was released late Monday and might hinder the union’s efforts to maintain a majority on the board. Despite unclear effectiveness of their endorsement, CTU-backed candidates secured four of nine spots in the 2024 election. With 30,000 union members showing support, the organizing strength of CTU could heavily influence down-ballot races.
The endorsed candidates mostly meet expectations. CTS political director Hilario Dominguez leads as a Board President candidate and was endorsed by CTU last month. The union also favored seven sitting board members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson—who is a former CTU organizer—two incumbents elected with CTU support, Ebony DeBerry from District 2A on the Far North Side, and Jitu Brown from District 5A on the West Side.
Chicago Public Schools is undergoing a two-year transition to have 10 elected and 11 appointed members. For the first time, all seats are available in November. In District 10A on the South Side, nonprofit leader Tameka Walton is endorsed as a write-in candidate. Walton aimed to run with 50 others in May but was challenged successfully against her nominating papers.
Angel Velez from District 9A and Cydney Wallace from District 8B, both appointed board members aligned with CTU, were disqualified after petition disputes. Their opponents face no competition now in their districts. Elected incumbents Ellen Rosenfeld in District 4B and Angel Gutierrez in District 8A filed to run, although neither is affiliated with CTU.
Sitting board member Yesenia Lopez from District 7B did not gain endorsement. Elected with CTU support originally, Lopez disagreed with the union on charter schools and budgeting matters often.
CTU will again oppose special interest groups backing charter schools and school choice. In 2024, CTU political committees spent $4.3 million, more than any other faction, based on a Chalkbeat analysis. Super PACs for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and Urban Center collectively spent $3.5 million.
Deciding endorsements involves meetings with candidates and reviewing questionnaires by the union’s political committee. The CTU House of Delegates, consisting of about 700 members, must approve by majority votes. Kathryn Zamarrón, chair of CTU’s legislative committee, emphasizes that teachers should guide district decisions, comparing it to physicians managing hospitals.
SEIU Illinois State Council backed 13 additional candidates, including current board appointees, elected incumbents, and a mix of those with and without CTU support. SEIU Local 73, representing 13,000 CPS support workers, might become a substantial force for mobilization. Notably, only four candidates have endorsements from both CTU and SEIU.
Relations over the last year between the unions have weakened due to staff disputes. SEIU did not endorse anyone for board president. However, Local 73 President Dian Palmer insisted their goal supports workers and students alike.
CTU Endorsed Candidates:
- Board President Hilario Dominguez
- District 1A Ed Bannon
- District 1B Claudia Peralta
- District 2A Ebony DeBerry
- District 2B Deborah “Debby” Pope
- District 3A Norma Rios-Sierra
- District 3B Jason Dones
- District 4A Karen Zaccor
- District 5A Aaron “Jitu” Brown
- District 5B Michilla Blaise
- District 6A Anusha Thotakura
- District 7A Emma Lozano
- District 9B Katherine Dunneback
- District 10A Tameka Walton (write-in candidate)
- District 10B Connie Anderson
SEIU Endorsed Candidates:
- District 1A Ed Bannon*
- District 1B Claudia Peralta*
- District 2A Ebony DeBerry*
- District 3A Norma Rios-Sierra*
- District 3B Carlos Rivas
- District 4A Ellen Sherratt
- District 4B Ellen Rosenfeld
- District 7A Jesus Ayala, Jr.
- District 7B Yesenia Lopez
- District 8A Angel Gutierrez
- District 9A Brittany Preston
- District 9B Therese Boyle
- District 10A Che “Rhymefest” Smith
*Candidates endorsed by both CTU and SEIU
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