Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 8a, Southwest Side

In the 2026 Chicago School Board election, incumbent member Angel Gutierrez is guaranteed to retain his seat in District 8a on the Southwest Side, where he is running unopposed. Gutierrez, a nonprofit leader and Garfield Ridge resident, has received full campaign support from deep-pocketed school choice groups and has a significant financial advantage due to contributions from billionaires such as Michael Sacks.

The district, where 60% of residents are Hispanic, has leaned conservative and has more families than single-person households.

Gutierrez aims to enhance special education, provide opportunities for learning skilled trades, and ensure access to reliable transportation, including school buses. He supports the continuation of CPS' strategy that allows families to choose from a range of schools outside their neighborhood. Additionally, Gutierrez is the only board member advocating for Illinois to participate in the Trump administration's federal tax-credit scholarship program, which offers tax credits for donations made to organizations that grant scholarships for private school attendance.

As a four-year term incumbent, Gutierrez will serve a four-year term after winning a two-year term in 2024. He previously won against an endorsed candidate with 63% of the vote. Financial support from major donors, such as Sacks, and endorsements from groups like the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools have bolstered Gutierrez's campaign.