{
  "id": 9535383,
  "title": "Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 7b, Southwest Side",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/chicago-school-board-election-2026-the-race-in-district-7b-southwest",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T10:14:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Chalkbeat",
    "slug": "chalkbeat",
    "url": "https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/09/24/school-board-election-2026-district-7b-candidates-voter-guide/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the 2026 Chicago School Board election, District 7b on the Southwest Side presents a tight race between two candidates with different backgrounds and priorities. Incumbent Yesenia Lopez, a Latina with a public service background, is challenged by Erika Diaz-Chavez, a project manager at the Chicago Park District who attended private schools. Both candidates support providing more special education resources and protecting immigrant families, but they differ on Sustainable Community Schools, a program favored by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). Lopez, backed by SEIU Illinois State Council, endorses the program, while Diaz-Chavez, supported by The Urban Center, is skeptical and wants to evaluate it before allocating more funds. Both candidates share a focus on improving student outcomes and addressing the needs of immigrant families, but they have distinct views on the role and effectiveness of the CTU-led program.",
  "summary": "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 . Two Latinas with backgrounds in public service are vying to represent a slice of the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Chalkbeat",
        "title": "Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 6a, downtown Chicago",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/chicago-school-board-election-2026-the-race-in-district-6a-downtown",
        "published": "2026-09-24T10:11:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}