Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 7a, Southwest Side
This story was reported and published in collaboration with WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit newsroom covering Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Stay informed with Chalkbeat Chicago’s newsletter , WBEZ and the Sun-Times’ education newsletter , and Block Club Chicago’s newsletters . In this majority Latino district, a longtime pastor and activist who fought against…
In District 7a of Chicago's Southwest Side, a school board election is underway in 2026. Incumbent member Emma Lozano, a longtime pastor and activist, faces a younger challenger and Chicago Public Schools graduate, Jesus Ayala Jr. Lozano, endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, supports protecting immigrant communities and securing progressive revenue, while Ayala, backed by charter school advocates and pro-business groups, emphasizes academic outcomes and evaluating the effectiveness of learning materials.
Both candidates have different approaches to securing funding, with Lozano favoring additional state funding and Ayala cautioning against relying on unsecured funds. The district, home to 48 public schools, has a predominantly Latino student body with many English learners. Lozano and Ayala have different views on how to improve schools, leading to endorsements from opposing unions.
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- 2026 Chicago School Board Election Resources chalkbeat.org
