Illinois voters face high-stakes choices for governor and school board

Illinois voters will decide who leads the state, who represents the region in Congress, and how Chicago public schools are governed in the November election. The contest for the governor's mansion pits incumbent JB Pritzker against Republican Darren Bailey. Pritzker is seeking a third consecutive term, a feat not accomplished in Illinois for roughly 40 years. He defeated Bailey in 2022 by more than 12 percentage points and half a million votes. Bailey, a former state lawmaker, has run a different campaign this year following the death of family members in a helicopter crash last year. Despite the change in tone, Bailey faces a steep financial gap. Pritzker, whose net worth is estimated at $4 billion, contributed $65 million to his campaign last month. Bailey raised approximately $633,000 in the third quarter and held slightly over $431,000 at the start of the month, according to campaign finance records.

In the U.S. Senate race, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is expected to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Stratton won the Democratic primary in March against two sitting members of Congress. She faces Don Tracy, a central Illinois attorney and former state GOP chairman. Stratton has campaigned on progressive platforms, including a $25 minimum wage and Medicare for All. Her election would help form a younger delegation in Washington, as several long-serving Democrats are stepping down.

Congressional races also feature transitions. Democrat La Shawn Ford is expected to win the 7th District seat previously held by Rep. Danny Davis. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss is the favorite in the 9th District, where he would succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky. The 4th District race has drawn scrutiny after Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia decided not to seek reelection. His chief of staff, Patty Garcia, won the Democratic nomination without competition after Garcia's late announcement cleared the field. Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, a successful independent candidate, and Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey join Republican Lupe Castillo on the ballot.

The most transformative local contest is the election of the entire Chicago Board of Education. For the first time, all 21 members will be elected by voters. The board controls the budget and policies for Chicago Public Schools, which serves over 316,000 students. The race for the board presidency has attracted millions in spending. Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez, and Victor P. Henderson are the remaining candidates. More than $6 million has been spent on the race as of mid-October. Common Ground Collective, backed by Michael Sacks, has spent about $2.6 million, including over $846,000 on advertising against Dominguez in the current month.

Dominguez, a former special education teacher, is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union. He recently addressed criticism regarding a renewed investigation into past allegations of misconduct. The CPS inspector general stated last week that there was not sufficient evidence of sexual misconduct. Dominguez described the reopening as a political effort to smear his reputation. Key issues in the board election include school funding and the potential closure of under-enrolled schools, a move Dominguez and the union have opposed.

Voters will cast ballots in these races next month. The outcomes will determine the leadership in Springfield and Washington, as well as the governance structure for the nation's third-largest public school system.