District 9a neighborhoods: Auburn Gresham, West Englewood, Englewood, New City, Ashburn, Washington Heights
Brittany Bailey Preston, the sole candidate for District 9a, cruised to victory Tuesday night, according to election results from the Associated Press.
Preston faced no opposition after Angel Velez, who had been appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, failed to get on the ballot after a large percentage of his signatures were challenged and invalidated. Preston is married to state Sen. Willie Preston, whose district covers the same neighborhoods she will oversee in her role as a school board member.
Minutes after being declared the winner, Preston walked into her election watch party at Q’s Lounge in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood.
“I’m feeling well,” she said by phone. “I’m excited to get to work for the children in my community, children in District 9a.”
Once she starts her term, Preston said she plans to focus on initiatives to raise student’s reading levels, and she wants students to have more options to enroll in trade programs.
“Our CPS schools should set up students to be successful despite not going to college,” Preston said.
Also on top of her list: figuring out how to improve lunches for children.
The majority-Black district includes a mix of 47 neighborhood, charter and magnet schools serving mostly Black and Hispanic students. The area also has one of the lowest percentages of schools that earned either “exemplary” or “commendable” designations last year from the state — the top two ratings — across the city. A number of schools here have struggled with declining enrollment over the past 15 years.
The district also has one of the lowest percentages citywide of CPS students choosing neighborhood schools. Some 32% of students in 9a chose their neighborhood elementary and high schools compared to 46% systemwide, according to data compiled by Chalkbeat.
This seat was previously held by Frank Thomas, who resigned in June 2025 and was later replaced by Velez. After being removed from the ballot, Velez said he would not pursue a write-in candidacy.
Preston’s biggest campaign donation came from the SEIU Illinois Council political action committee, which endorsed her. Her campaign was also supported by groups who oppose the Chicago Teachers Union and are proponents of school choice and charter schools, including the Urban Center, the Common Ground Collective and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.
Contributing: Jim Lynch, Block Club Chicago