Chicago elects its whole school board on Tuesday for the first time. What's on the ballot, and where City Hall fits in

All 20 district seats and a citywide board president are up Nov. 3. The Mayor stepped up his attacks this week on the businessman funding a group that backs other candidates.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Oct 28, 2026

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Chicago voters will elect every seat on the Chicago Board of Education for the first time: 20 district members and a citywide board president, WBEZ reported. Today's board is a hybrid, with half its members elected in 2024 and the other half appointed by the Mayor, who holds a majority. The new board takes office in January.

Why it matters: the board sets the budget for Chicago Public Schools, which enrolls about 305,000 students, can raise local property taxes, hires and evaluates the schools' chief executive, and votes on opening and closing schools and on contracts, including teacher contracts, according to WBEZ.

What happened this week

At a news conference Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson accused a billionaire of leading a coalition that is spending millions to elect board members who would close schools, the Sun-Times reported. He did not name the person, but the paper said he was referring to businessman Michael Sacks. Sacks called the claims false and said he has never advocated closing any schools, according to the Sun-Times.

The Sun-Times reported that the Common Ground Collective PAC, to which Sacks has given millions, has raised more than $5 million to back Jessica Biggs for board president and other candidates, and has outspent the Chicago Teachers Union by more than 3 to 1. The union and the Mayor support Hilario Dominguez for president, ABC7 reported. Victor Henderson, an attorney, is also running.

What's on your ballot

Every voter casts two school board votes: one for the member from the district that includes their home address, and one for president, according to WBEZ. The president's term runs four years. Of the district seats, those that were appointed until now are elected for two years this time, and those first elected in 2024 for four, so the terms alternate after 2028. Board members are not paid.

Most districts have two or three candidates; three districts, 4b, 8a and 9a, have one, WBEZ found. The same ballot has the state and county races and three citywide advisory questions, which we explained. Early voting is open in all 50 wards, with downtown sites open until 7 p.m. through Nov. 2, WBEZ reported.

Where the City Council fits

The Council doesn't vote on the schools' budget or appoint board members, but it does vote on money that flows to school buildings. This year, the Council approved seven intergovernmental agreements giving the Board of Education tax increment financing (TIF) money for improvements at specific schools, each introduced by the Mayor and each passing with no more than one no vote. The most recent two, for the Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary in Humboldt Park and Suder Montessori Magnet Elementary on the Near West Side, passed 49 to 0 on Oct. 14, as we reported.

How each ward voted

49 yea, 1 not voting · Oct 14, 2026 · Passed

Yea Nay Not voting

O2026-0028745: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

The school board race also overlaps with the one for City Hall. The Sun-Times noted that Johnson named Sacks his main political opponent when he launched his re-election campaign, and that Sacks-funded ads have criticized parts of the City's 2026 budget. Johnson's own election is Feb. 23; see our story on the 16 people who filed for mayor.

What's next

Nov. 3, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Election Day.
January 2027: the fully elected board is seated.