Candidates line up for Chicago Board of Education as petitioning filing period opens

May 19, 2026 - 03:24

A long line stretched outside the Chicago Board of Elections on Monday morning as the petition filing period officially opened for the city's first-ever elected Board of Education. Dozens of hopefuls arrived before dawn, eager to secure a spot on the ballot for the historic November election.

For decades, Chicago's school board was entirely appointed by the mayor. A new state law changed that, creating a hybrid board with 10 elected members and 11 appointed by the mayor. This year, voters in each of the city's 10 districts will choose one representative. The remaining seats will be filled by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Candidates must submit between 500 and 1,000 valid signatures from registered voters within their district. The filing period runs through June 24, and the competition is already intense. Many candidates are backed by powerful unions, while others are supported by reform-minded groups pushing for more charter schools or stricter accountability.

Observers say the race will be a major test of political power in Chicago. The elected board will have significant authority over the district's $9 billion budget, teacher contracts, and school closures. With the city still recovering from the pandemic's impact on learning, the stakes are high.

Some candidates focused on safety and special education resources. Others emphasized the need for more local control and transparency. Whatever their platform, they all faced the same first hurdle: getting their paperwork in order before the line got any longer.