Spending in Chicago school board election tops $9 million as election nears

Chicago's historic school board races have reached a spending milestone of over $9 million as the campaigns near their conclusion. The anti-Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) groups have surpassed the union in total campaign spending, with special interest groups contributing more than $2.6 million in advertising since October. This brings the total independent expenditures on school board races to more than $6.7 million.

The races involve 20 local district elections, with many super PACs spending significantly more than the CTU or more. Even candidates who are the sole candidates in their districts have amassed sizable war chests. The CTU, while still influential, is lagging behind other groups seeking to limit its influence on the school board, including the SEIU Local 73 and its affiliated political committees.

The CTU, representing support workers in CPS, has been targeted by CTU-backed attack ads. Chicago billionaire Michael Sacks, a strong Democratic donor, has made substantial donations to the Common Ground Collective, the single largest contributor in the election, and directly to school board president candidate Jessica Biggs. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools, a longtime adversary of the teacher union, is also a major spender.

The school board's influence over the hiring of the CPS superintendent, approval of the system's budget, and final say over CPS union contracts is at stake. The CTU, with its 25,000 members, can galvanize support in races with little name recognition through a strong ground game. However, campaign cash can provide a significant advantage but does not guarantee success.