Major investment falls short as majority of Union-endorsed candidates are rejected by voters
CHICAGO — In an ambitious bid to expand its influence, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) invested a staggering $1.74 million to support its favored candidates for the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education. Despite this substantial outlay, the CTU saw only limited success, with just four of its ten endorsed candidates securing seats, signaling a shift in voter sentiment and a setback for both the union and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
After successfully helping Johnson—a former CTU organizer—ascend to the mayor’s office in 2023, the union turned its attention to the newly elected school board, marking a historic transition as Chicago moved to a partially elected school board for the first time. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, CTU backed ten candidates with financial and strategic support. However, six of those candidates fell short in the polls, a surprising outcome given that teacher union-backed candidates nationwide tend to win around 70% of the time in contested races.