Jessica Biggs Takes Lead In Race For First Elected CPS Board President

Jessica Biggs declared victory in the race to become the first elected president of the Chicago Public Schools board of education on Tuesday night. The former principal and current board member held a wide lead over her opponents in the most recent vote counts. Her rivals were Hilario Dominguez, a former Chicago Teachers Union official, and attorney Victor Henderson.

The position carries substantial new power. Starting in January, the board president will hold a full voting seat on the board instead of serving only as a tie-breaker. The role also controls the setting of the board’s agenda and direction. This shift in authority drew millions of dollars in campaign spending and a series of heated debates among the three candidates.

Biggs pledged to restore financial stability to the district, which currently operates with a deficit. She stated her goal is to run a well-organized board that prioritizes student outcomes. Her campaign received backing from SEIU Local 73, the union representing support workers in the district. The Common Ground Collective, a political action group heavily funded by philanthropist Michael Sacks, also supported her bid.

In her victory speech, Biggs said families sought stability in district leadership and were weary of political conflict. "For too long decisions about our schools have been made in the backrooms of City Hall, and families have been left to live with the consequences," she said. "Tonight that changes." She added that the district faces enormous challenges regarding finances, enrollment, and family trust, but the board’s resolve is equally strong.

Dominguez, who is on leave from his teaching and union roles, promised to push for increased state funding. He outlined plans to offer preschool to all three-year-olds in the city. His campaign was funded almost exclusively by the CTU, which seeks to maintain its majority on the 11-member board. Henderson, whose campaign was largely self-funded, pledged to increase transparency through a forensic audit of district spending and the use of outside academic experts.

Dian Palmer, president of the CPS support worker union, introduced Biggs at the watch party downtown. Palmer described Biggs as "really, really smart and really dedicated." She noted that union leaders worked hard to secure the win, stating, "We left nothing on the table." The SEIU had recently turned against the CTU due to a contractual dispute.

Dominguez struck a defiant tone at the CTU headquarters. He characterized his campaign as a fight by underdogs against wealthy opposition. "We had people who believed public education was worth fighting for even when the odds were stacked against us," he told supporters. He urged the crowd to return to work, adding, "In this city, we answer to no billionaires."

All three candidates defended their records during the campaign. Biggs was fired in 2018 after an internal watchdog found she misreported attendance, a move she called retaliation. Dominguez cited a recent inspector general report that found insufficient evidence to substantiate allegations of inappropriate conduct. Henderson rejected allegations from divorce proceedings two decades ago, stating he disciplined his children appropriately.