The Chicago Teachers Union has endorsed a slate of 15 candidates for the 21 seats on the city’s Board of Education, backing a mix of mayoral picks and political newcomers ahead of the November election.

In the remaining six races — four of those uncontested — CTU said no candidate aligned with its values. The shorter endorsement list, which was released late Monday, could complicate the union’s effort to maintain a majority on the school board.

It’s unclear how much weight the union’s endorsement will carry. In the 2024 school board races, CTU-backed candidates won just four of nine contested races. Still, endorsees will benefit from the organizing muscle of CTU’s 30,000 members, which could prove key in the down-ballot races.

Most of the candidates are no surprise. At the top of the slate is CTU political director Hilario Dominguez, who is running for board president and was endorsed by the union last month. Four other candidates are running for the at-large role.

The union also endorsed seven current board members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer, along with two incumbents elected with CTU support: Ebony DeBerry, representing District 2A on the Far North Side, and Jitu Brown, representing District 5A on the West Side.

The governing board of Chicago Public Schools is currently in a two-year transition, with 10 elected members and 11 appointees. For the first time, all seats will be on the ballot in November.

In District 10A on the South Side, CTU endorsed nonprofit leader Tameka Walton as a write-in candidate. Walton filed to run in May alongside 50 other candidates, but said an objector successfully challenged her nominating papers. The Chicago Electoral Board has yet to make a final ruling in her case, but if she is removed, elected incumbent Che “Rhymefest” Smith will be the only name printed on the ballot in her district.

Appointed board members Angel Velez from District 9A on the South Side and Cydney Wallace from District 8B on the Southwest Side were also booted from the ballot following petition challenges. Both were aligned with CTU, and their removal leaves their opponents uncontested in their respective districts.

Meanwhile, in two other districts, only the elected incumbents filed to run. Neither is aligned with CTU: Ellen Rosenfeld in District 4B on the North Side and Angel Gutierrez in District 8A on the Southwest Side.

Notably, sitting board member Yesenia Lopez, representing District 7B on the Southwest Side, did not receive an endorsement. She was elected with CTU support but has often diverged from the union, increasingly voting with a bloc of independent elected members on issues such as charter schools and the district’s budget.

This election cycle, CTU is again expected to go toe to toe with special interest groups supporting charter schools and school choice.

In 2024, the union’s two political action committees spent $4.3 million, more than any other group, according to a Chalkbeat analysis. Super PACs for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and Urban Center together spent $3.5 million.

To decide endorsements, the union’s political committee meets with candidates and reviews questionnaires. The CTU House of Delegates, which is made up of roughly 700 members, must approve the list in a majority vote.

Kathryn Zamarrón, the legislative committee chair of CTU’s political action committee, said voters should trust that teachers know the best path forward for the district.

“Nobody questions that doctors should run hospitals … The doctors, who are experts, should run that organization,” Zamarrón said. “So, why wouldn’t teachers? Why wouldn’t paraprofessionals?”

The SEIU Illinois State Council also endorsed 13 candidates Tuesday, including current board appointees, elected incumbents and a mix of new candidates with and without CTU endorsements. SEIU Local 73 represents 13,000 support staff in CPS, a group that could similarly serve as a powerful mobilizing force.

Only four candidates have both CTU and an SEIU backing. The two unions were once close allies, but their relations have frayed over the past year after a turf war over district employees.

SEIU did not endorse a candidate in the board president race, but Local 73 President Dian Palmer said union leaders “are still having discussions.”

“We want the best for our workers, and the workers want the best for our students,” Palmer said. “We don’t take it lightly.”

The CTU has endorsed the following school board candidates:Board President

Hilario Dominguez

District 1A

Ed Bannon

District 1B

Claudia Peralta

District 2A

Ebony DeBerry

District 2B

Deborah “Debby” Pope

District 3A

Norma Rios-Sierra

District 3B

Jason Dones

District 4A

Karen Zaccor

District 5A

Aaron “Jitu” Brown

District 5B

Michilla Blaise

District 6A

Anusha Thotakura

District 7A

Emma Lozano

District 9B

Katherine Dunneback

District 10A

Tameka Walton (write-in candidate)

District 10B

Connie Anderson

The SEIU has endorsed the following candidates:District 1A

Ed Bannon*

District 1B

Claudia Peralta*

District 2A

Ebony DeBerry*

District 3A

Norma Rios-Sierra*

District 3B

Carlos Rivas

District 4A

Ellen Sherratt

District 4B

Ellen Rosenfeld

District 7A

Jesus Ayala, Jr.

District 7B

Yesenia Lopez

District 8A

Angel Gutierrez

District 9A

Brittany Preston

District 9B

Therese Boyle

District 10A

Che “Rhymefest” Smith

*Candidates who are endorsed by both CTU and SEIU