More than 30 candidates make the ballot for Chicago’s first School Board election

The ballot for Chicago’s first school board elections is largely set, with 32 candidates remaining in the running after weeks of challenges and withdrawals.

The Chicago Board of Election commissioners made their final determinations Tuesday on the few remaining challenges to the qualifications of candidates who had filed to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. Candidates have until Sept. 3 to appeal decisions. Early voting begins Sept. 26.

Chicago’s school board will expand in January from seven members to 21. Voters will elect 10 members who each will represent a geographic district. The mayor will appoint the other 10, plus the board president. In 2027, all 21 will be elected, with the president running at large.

A field that started with 47 candidates in June was whittled down after six hopefuls withdrew and another eight were removed after failing a petition challenge.

Even after this process, all 10 geographic voting districts will have contested elections. Four districts will have only two candidates. District 4, which includes Lincoln Park and Lake View, has the most candidates at six.

Some of the candidates who dropped out or were booted off the ballot are waging write-in campaigns.

To get on the ballot, candidates had to submit 1,000 valid signatures, which is more than what’s required for alderpeople and most Congressional candidates. Some advocacy organizations raised concerns that it was too much for parents and other grassroots candidates, who might not be connected to bigger organizations.

All of the candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union were able to keep their place on the ballot, though in the one district where they endorsed two candidates, one withdrew.

Some other candidates got help from an organization called Leadership for Educational Equity, which helps with logistics of school board campaigns.