# Big money floods School Board races

> Billionaire-backed groups outspend Chicago Teachers Union 5:1 in school board races.
- Title: Big money floods School Board races · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Billionaire-backed groups outspend Chicago Teachers Union 5:1 in school board races. Billionaire-backed groups have spent over $8.1 million targeting Chicago…
- Keywords: chicago, school board races, chicago teachers union, billionaire-backed groups, hilario dominguez, jessica biggs, victor henderson, council of education, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, school board president, chicago public schools
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/morning-edition/2026/10/19/chicago-public-schools-board-of-education-police-coco
- Published: 2026-10-19T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: chicago, school board races, chicago teachers union, billionaire-backed groups, hilario dominguez, jessica biggs, victor henderson, council of education, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, school board president, chicago public schools
## School Board races
Chicago Public Schools will elect all 20 board members and a citywide president on November 3.
## Billionaire spending surge
Wealthy suburban donors have outraised the Chicago Teachers Union 5:1 and outspent it nearly 3:1 in campaign finance filings.
## Targeting Hilario Dominguez
Over a quarter of $8.1 million spent by billionaire-backed groups targets Hilario Dominguez, the CTU’s board president pick.
## Spending disparity
The spending against Dominguez is more than four times the amount spent on top supported candidate Jessica Biggs.
## Proxy battle strategy
Billionaire-funded groups aim to take down the CTU before February’s mayoral race, where Mayor Brandon Johnson is closely allied with the union.
## CTU pushback
The Chicago Teachers Union has faced scrutiny over past allegations of sexual misconduct with a CPS student nearly a decade ago.
## Election context
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s reelection campaign has less than $380,000 while his top opponent has $19 million.
## CTU’s position
The Chicago Teachers Union has been a key ally in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political rise.
## Billionaire-backed groups
Charter school backers and prominent billionaires have aligned against the Chicago Teachers Union.
## Spending analysis
Our analysis shows billionaire-backed groups have outraised the CTU 5:1 and outspent it nearly 3:1 in campaign finance filings.
## CTU’s candidate
Hilario Dominguez, the CTU’s board president pick, faces heavy opposition from billionaire-backed groups.
## Top supported candidate
Jessica Biggs is the top supported candidate by the Chicago Teachers Union.
## Election timeline
The school board races will be held on November 3, 2026, with the mayoral race in February 2027.
## CTU’s influence
The Chicago Teachers Union helped propel its former organizer to office as mayor.
## Spending impact
Billionaire-backed groups have spent over $8.1 million targeting Hilario Dominguez in the school board races.
## Consequence
The school board races could shift political power in Chicago before the mayoral election.
## Key takeaway

Billionaire-backed groups have spent over $8.1 million targeting Chicago Teachers Union's board president pick in school board races.