<p><i>This </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/07/14/ctu-announces-endorsements-in-school-board-election/" target="_blank" ><i>story was published in partnership</i></a><i> with Chalkbeat Chicago.</i></p><p>The Chicago Teachers Union <a class="Link" href="https://www.ctulocal1.org/posts/chicago-teachers-union-endorses-candidates-running-as-public-school-champions-in-school-board-race-says-students-educational-experience-to-be-decided-in-november/" target="_blank" ><u>announced Monday</u></a> it will endorse only 15 candidates in the upcoming school board race in which all 21 seats are up for election — a decision that could make it difficult for the union to hold onto its majority.</p><p>The union will back 10 incumbents who they supported in the election two years ago or were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson, a former organizer for the CTU, is an ally of the union.</p><p>Notably absent from their list of endorsements is Yesenia Lopez, who won in 2024 <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/chicago-school-board/yesenia-lopez-chicago-school-board-candidate-questionnaire-2024" target="_blank" ><u>with the union’s endorsement</u></a>, but occasionally voted independently of other CTU-aligned school board members over the past year and half.</p><p>CTU last month endorsed their political director Hilario Dominguez in the citywide race for school board president. There are four other people running for that seat.</p><p>In the six districts where the CTU did not endorse anyone, it was because the race had <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/06/12/petition-challenges-could-leave-many-school-board-races-with-one-candidate/" target="_blank" ><u>only one candidate</u></a> or there’s no candidate aligned with the CTU.</p><p>One of the five non-incumbents getting CTU’s nod is Tameka Walton, who the union said is mounting a write-in campaign.