Updated Season Opener: Who's Running for School Board...So Far

Editor's Note: This post will be updated regularly as more candidates enter the race.

When it comes to timing, election campaigns and baseball season have a lot in common. They both heat up in the fall, but start in late winter to early spring. This year, February marks both the start of spring training and the “preseason” for Chicago’s school board candidates.

But unlike baseball season, when all the teams get started at once, petition season for candidates will see momentum pick up as we get closer to the filing deadline, May 26.

In February, WBEZ published a deep dive into the money sitting board members have already amassed (or not) to run in November. The chart at the bottom of the article also shows which incumbents have active committees, a strong sign they plan to run.

Board Rule has been reaching out to incumbents, challengers, and organizations recruiting candidates to assess the state of the field. Here's what we've learned so far.

Board President: The first candidate to declare was Sendhil Revuluri. In March, Jennifer Custer announced her candidacy. Trial lawyer Victor Henderson, who serves on the board of the Urban Prep charter network, has an active committee. In early April, Jessica Biggs announced her candidacy. President Sean Harden, the current appointee, has announced he will not run for election.

District 1A. Incumbent appointee Ed Bannon has launched his campaign for the elected seat. City Council members Jim Gardiner, Anthony Napolitano, and Nick Sposato are backing a challenger, Margie Luczak. Taft High School student Jack Matheis announced his campaign for the seat in March.

District 1B. The current elected, Jennifer Custer, is running for board president. Claudia Peralta, district director for Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, announced her candidacy in February. Michelle Pierre, a charter leader who also served as the chief academic officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, ran in 2024 and is running again.

District 2A. The current elected, Ebony DeBerry, has an active committee and confirmed she is seeking re-election. Board Rule is unaware of any declared challengers.

District 2B. Debby Pope, the current appointed member, confirmed she plans to reactivate her campaign committee and run for election. Board Rule is unaware of any declared challengers.

District 3A. Current appointee Norma Rios-Sierra has an active committee. Challenger Peter Gonzales has also established a campaign committee.

District 3B. Carlos Rivas, the incumbent elected, kicked off his campaign on March 8. Jason Dónes, who ran in 2024, has an active campaign committee and filed petitions on May 18.

District 4A. Karen Zaccor, who ran unsuccessfully in 2024 and was later appointed to this seat, has an active campaign committee. Her challengers include Angel Alvarez, a CPS parent who currently serves as president of the school district's Office of Students with Disabilities Family Advisory Board, and Ellen Sherratt, an expert on education policy, especially teacher development and pay.

District 4B. Ellen Rosenfeld, the incumbent elected, confirmed she will run to keep her seat. Board Rule is unaware of any declared challengers.

District 5A. Jitu Brown, the incumbent elected, has an active committee. Realtor LaPamela Williams is challenging him.

District 5B. Michilla Blaise, who withdrew her 2024 candidacy and was later appointed to her current seat, has an active campaign committee. Anthony Hargrove, who ran in 2024 but did not survive a petition challenge, has an active committee.

District 6A. Anusha Thotakura, who ran unsuccessfully in 2024 and was later appointed to this seat, has an active campaign committee. She confirmed she will run for her seat. She faces two challengers: Isaiah White, who lost his bid for a seat on the Cook County Board in March, and Brenda Anderson, an education researcher who recently completed the ALL Fellowship.

District 6B. The current elected, Jessica Biggs, has announced she will run for board president. Pastor Michael Neal of Glorious Light Church in Bronzeville, who has close ties with Biggs, will run for the open seat in 6B. Lawyer Brittany Kimble also has an active campaign committee.

District 7A. Incumbent appointee Emma Lozano activated her campaign committee as of May 1, 2026. Jesus Ayala, Jr., who ran last time, is running again.

District 7B. Incumbent Yesenia López has an active campaign committee. Board Rule is unaware of any declared challengers.

District 8A. Incumbent Angel Gutierrez has an active campaign committee. Board Rule is unaware of any declared challengers.

District 8B. Incumbent appointee Cydney Wallace is circulating petitions. A former Marine, current Chicago police detective, and cafe owner, Juan Ignacio Gonzalez, has launched his bid to challenge Wallace for the seat.

District 9A. Ángel Vélez, the appointed incumbent, does not have an active campaign committee but has shared social media posts collecting signatures. Should he decide to run, he already has a declared challenger: Brittany Preston, who is married to state Senator Willie Preston.

District 9B. The current elected, Therese Boyle, has an active campaign committee. Board Rule is unaware of any declared challengers.

District 10A. The current elected, Che "Rhymefest" Smith, has an active campaign committee. Jessie Saffold, a mother of two CPS students and a Woodlawn community organizer, is challenging him.

District 10B. Corey Shaw, also known as "CJ Shaw-El," has formed a campaign committee. Shaw is the community affairs manager for state Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-27). Shaw is currently running unopposed. Former incumbent Olga Bautista, the appointed member who had been serving as the board's vice president, resigned in early March after winning a sabbatical award from the Chicago Frontlines Fund. On May 18, Board Rule learned that Connie Anderson, co-owner of the South Chicago record store The Record Track, is gathering ballot signatures.

Note: this post has been updated to correct the district seats for Anusha Thotakura and Jessica Biggs. Thotakura represents district 6A, and Biggs represents 6B.

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