More than half of the 51 prospective candidates for Chicago’s first fully elected school board are facing ballot challenges.
The objections, filed Tuesday with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, contest the validity of signatures candidates submitted last week. Candidates for district seats had to turn in between 500 and 1,500 signatures from residents in their voting district, while candidates for board president had to submit 2,500.
For the first time, all 21 seats of the Chicago Board of Education will be up for election in November. The hybrid body is currently in a two-year transition, with 10 elected members and 11 mayoral appointees, including the at-large board president position.
Thirty-five objections were filed against 28 candidates, meaning some candidates are facing multiple challenges. The objections cite a range of concerns, including duplicate names, incorrect addresses and improper paperwork. If a challenge is successful, board hopefuls could be knocked off the ballot.
The process is frequently described as a blood sport in Illinois: In 2024, 27 school board candidates faced challenges, and more than a dozen were ultimately booted from the ballot.
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This election cycle, most of the objections have been filed against political newcomers. Still, nine appointed incumbents are facing challenges, as well as three elected members — Jitu Brown, Yesenia Lopez and Jessica Biggs, who is running for board president.
Sitting board member Jennifer Custer is the only board president candidate not facing an objection, cementing her place on the ballot. Along with Biggs, there are three other candidates running for the role: Chicago Teachers Union political director Hilario Dominguez, attorney Victor Henderson and former board appointee Sendhil Revuluri.
Elected board members Ellen Rosenfeld, representing District 4B on the North Side, and Angel Gutierrez, representing District 8A on the Southwest Side, are running unopposed. They are also in the only districts without challenges, all but guaranteeing their reelection.
Aside from the board president race, every other district has between two and three candidates.
The Chicago Electoral Board is slated to meet early this month to hear and rule on the challenges. The board will review signatures and other records before issuing a written decision. Candidates or challenges can appeal the decision in court.