Posted inEducation

More Than $9 Million in Spending is Pouring Into Chicago School Board Races. Here’s Where It’s Going.

Even as the race for school board president race has claimed the spotlight, district-level competitions are seeing an influx of cash and intense campaigning, including a wave of attack ads.

by Andrew Adams and Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

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More Than $9 Million in Spending is Pouring Into Chicago School Board Races. Here’s Where It’s Going.

by Andrew Adams and Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago, Illinois Answers Project
October 21, 2026

<h1>More Than $9 Million in Spending is Pouring Into Chicago School Board Races. Here’s Where It’s Going.</h1>
<p class="byline">by Andrew Adams and Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago, Illinois Answers Project <br />October 21, 2026</p>
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Early voting is underway in Chicago. For the first time in decades, the city will elect the school board. The heated election has drawn more than $9 million in campaign cash spending. Pictured: An early voting banner hangs outside Chicago's Humboldt Park Library on Oct. 18, 2026. — Early voting is underway in Chicago. For the first time in decades, the city will elect the school board. The heated election has drawn more than $9 million in campaign cash spending. Pictured: An early voting banner hangs outside Chicago's Humboldt Park Library on Oct. 18. (Credit: Becky Vevea/Chalkbeat)

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Tagged: Campaign finance, Chicago School Board race

Andrew AdamsData and Interactives Journalist

aadams@bettergov.org

Andrew Adams joined the Illinois Answers team in 2025 as a data and interactives journalist. Andrew previously worked for Capitol News Illinois, covering the energy industry, economic incentive programs and legislative issues affecting Chicagoland. Previously, he built a data beat for a national magazine covering the tech industry, conducted academic research into gun violence in downstate Illinois, and worked on an award-winning series analyzing the effects of stimulus programs during the pandemic. He holds degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois Springfield.

More by Andrew Adams

Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago

Mila Koumpilova is a reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago.

More by Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago