Biggs declares victory in school board president election
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Jessica Bigg (center) celebrates her victory Tuesday night with school board member Che "Rhymefest" Smith, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Ald. Lamont Robinson, Ald. Pat Dowell, State Sen. Lakesia Collins and Ald. Scott Waguespack.
School board member and former educator Jessica Biggs has declared victory as Chicago's first elected school board president.
- She made the announcement around 9pm, with her campaign aides explaining that they didn't see any mathematical way for her to lose.
Why it matters: This role, which was appointed for decades by Chicago mayors, wields major influence over city schools and how much money the district collects from taxpayers each year.
- Plus, the race is widely viewed as a measure of voter vibes as Chicago heads into a contentious mayoral election.
Between the lines: The choice of Biggs over Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidate Hilario Dominguez suggests a voter shift away from the policies of ultra-progressive CTU-affiliated candidates.
- That could spell trouble for Mayor Brandon Johnson's reelection plans.
On the campaign trail, Biggs emphasized:
- Setting and tracking student achievement goals.
- Putting the district on a path to financial stability.
- Creating an independent governing body.
She didn't rule out school closures but said she'd avoid the "top-down" approach of Rahm Emanuel's 2013 plan.
What they're saying: "For too long decisions about our schools have been made in the back rooms of City Hall and families have been left to deal with the consequences," Biggs said at a politician-packed victory party at RPM Events in River North.
- "This is a victory for everyone who wants a great public school in every community and it was built by a broad coalition of parents and educators, working families and faith leaders and neighbors from every part of Chicago."
- Families are tired of chaos and uncertainty. They want stability and they want this board to turn its focus back to our students.
By the numbers: As of 10:30pm with 1,118 of 1,291 precincts reporting, the count stood at:
- Jessica Biggs 49%
- Hilario Dominguez 30%
- Victor P. Henderson 18%
- Sendhil Revuluri 3%
Flashback: In a race full of mudslinging, Biggs was hounded by reminders of her dismissal from her job as a principal of a South Side school.
- Dominguez faced a reopened investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior with a minor. The inspector general concluded there was "no actionable finding of sexual misconduct."
- And Henderson was revisited by accusations from his ex-wife about using corporal punishment on his son.
Work ahead: Biggs now face some big challenges, including:
- Closing a large gap in the district budget that relies on $435 million in unallocated funds from the city and state.
- Addressing underenrolled schools: At least 150 operated at half capacity last year, before the district lost another 11,500 students.
- Managing AI in the classroom: About half of all candidates for president and school board, including Biggs, pledged to support a three-year moratorium on generative AI until the technology is better understood.
What's next: A new school board will be sworn in on Jan. 15.