Biggs Wins Chicago School Board Presidency Despite Union Push

Chicago voters chose Jessica Biggs as the city's first elected school board president on Tuesday, ending a race marked by intense union activity and political scrutiny.

Biggs, a former Chicago Public Schools principal and current board member, defeated Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidate Hilario Dominguez and attorney Victor Henderson. She campaigned with support from major unions, political action committees, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

The election follows months of instability on the current mayor-appointed hybrid board, which faced conflicts over budget allocations and the removal of the CPS chief executive officer. Biggs stated she intends to prioritize student needs over political maneuvering.

"I will also work with any mayor, any union and any partner who puts our children first because our students cannot afford to spend its energy fighting over political drama," Biggs said.

Although the Chicago Teachers Union lost the bid for the presidency, the organization reported gains in individual district races. CTU Vice President Jackson Potter said union-backed candidates won at least nine seats, with the possibility of a tenth victory. The union does not hold a majority of the 21-member board.

Potter argued the results signaled a rejection of heavy outside spending. "I would say that reflects the fact that Chicagoans in large do not accept dark money," he said. He also questioned how a white woman could adequately represent a majority-minority district, citing decades of neglect in those communities.

Becky Vevea, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Chicago, noted that the CTU-aligned bloc could influence legislation requiring a two-thirds majority. The new board is scheduled to be sworn in early next year, approximately one month before the mayoral election. The union previously played a major role in Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign.