Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 3b

In the Chicago 2026 School Board elections, two candidates from Humboldt Park, Carlos Rivas Jr. and Jason Dónes, are vying for representation in District 3b, which spans from West Town to Belmont Cragin. Both candidates identify as progressive. Rivas, the incumbent member, secured 54% of the votes in 2024, while Dónes received 46%.

Rivas has a more conservative fiscal approach compared to his opponent. Rivas has the backing of the State Council of SEIU Illinois, which represents thousands of CPS support staff, and charter school advocates, among others. Dónes is supported by the Chicago Teachers Union and several elected officials from northwest Chicago, including local and state officials and a member of Congress.

Both candidates have individual donor support. The schools in District 3b face teacher and counselor shortages, high property taxes, and low enrollment, amid rapid gentrification and neighborhood changes. Both Rivas and Dónes emphasize protecting immigrant students from federal immigration agents, supporting more affordable housing, and providing more resources and community alliances for CPS families.

Rivas wants less interference from the mayor in the Board and an end to loans that will increase CPS's budget deficit. Instead, he aims to leverage partnerships with social service organizations to provide resources like therapy or counselor access to children. Dónes, a parent of CPS students, seeks to increase budget transparency and find creative solutions within the existing budget framework.

He also stated that he will not accept donations from corporations or private groups funded by millionaires and billionaires. To avoid his 2024 defeat, Dónes plans to increase his presence in the district's areas that didn't vote for him in 2024, with more volunteers from his ties with United Neighbors of the 26th Ward, a progressive neighborhood group.

Dónes has taught and trained teachers in multiple CPS schools, worked on the CPS Equity Education Task Force, and helped draft Illinois' first set of culturally responsive teaching standards. Since 2023, Dónes has worked for Beyond 100K, a national non-profit organization addressing STEM teacher shortages, with a focus on attracting more teachers of color.

Since 2020, Dónes has been a member of United Neighbors, advocating for more affordable housing, and volunteered with Northwest Side Rapid Response Team to protect families from federal immigration agents. He also participated in organizing efforts with northwest Chicago elected officials seeking re-election. Dónes faced two challenges to his candidacy but was approved by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

According to Cook County court records, one of the challengers appealed the Board's decision. Dónes claims his experience as a community organizer, father of CPS students, and Local School Council member sets him apart from Rivas, as well as the endorsements and donations he has received from neighborhood and community groups. If elected, Dónes said he would work to increase budget resources for the district's schools, push for greater budget transparency, and protect CPS jobs supporting immigrant students facing immigration threats.

"Readers want to understand how our defenders are radical and creative in finding revenue, while being smart and careful with spending," Dónes said. "You don't have to choose between fiscal responsibility and radical defense of our causes; there's a way to do both."