2026 School Board Elections: Candidates’ Stance on Special Education and Disability Issues

As local elections approach, it’s vital to recognize their impact on advancing disability rights in education. At the Legal Council for Health Justice, we see these elections—especially school board races—as opportunities to shape policies that directly affect students with disabilities.

For the first time, Chicago will elect the entire Board of Education, which consists of 20 members and an at-large president. This shift empowers residents to vote for board members, giving them a direct say in shaping policies for local schools. With this new structure, there’s a greater focus on equity and inclusion, allowing community voices to advocate for necessary resources and policies that create a more accessible and supportive educational environment.

Legal Council partnered with Access Living to send questionnaires to the school board candidates about their stances on special education and disability issues. Follow the links below to learn more about each candidate and read their responses.

President:

• Jessica Biggs – Candidate Questionnaire
• Hilario Dominguez – Candidate Questionnaire
• Victor P. Henderson – Candidate Questionnaire
• Sendhil Revuluri – Candidate Questionnaire

District 1A (O’Hare, Norwood Park, Forest Glen, Jefferson Park, Dunning, Edison Park):

• Ed Bannon – Candidate Questionnaire
• Margie B. Luczak – No Questionnaire Received

District 1B (Portage Park, Dunning, Irving Park, Belmont Cragin, North Park, Montclare, Albany Park):

• Claudia Peralta – Candidate Questionnaire
• Michelle N. Pierre – Candidate Questionnaire

District 2A (West Ridge, Rogers Park, North Park):

• Ebony DeBerry – Candidate Questionnaire
• Bruce Leon – No Questionnaire Received
• Hector Morales – No Questionnaire Received

District 2B (Lincoln Square, Edgewater, Albany Park, Uptown, North Park):

• Daniel Basco – No Questionnaire Received
• Kyna Lenhof – Candidate Questionnaire
• Deborah “Debby” Pope – Candidate Questionnaire

District 3A (Avondale, Irving Park, Logan Square, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Albany Park):

• Peter Gonzales – Candidate Questionnaire
• Norma Rios Sierra – Candidate Questionnaire

District 3B (Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Belmont Cragin, West Town, Hermosa):

• Jason Dónes – Candidate Questionnaire
• Carlos A. Rivas Jr. – Candidate Questionnaire

District 4A (Lakeview, Uptown, North Center, Edgewater):

• Angel Alvarez – Candidate Questionnaire
• Ellen Sherratt – Candidate Questionnaire
• Karen Zaccor – Candidate Questionnaire

District 4B (Lincoln Park, North Center, Lakeview, Logan Square):

• Ellen Rosenfeld – Candidate Questionnaire

District 5A (Austin, Humboldt Park, West Town, Montclare):

• Aaron “Jitu” Brown – Candidate Questionnaire
• Kernetha Jones – No Questionnaire Received
• LaPamela Williams – Candidate Questionnaire

District 5B (North Lawndale, Near West Side, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, West Town):

• Michilla “Kyla” Blaise – Candidate Questionnaire
• Anthony Hargrove – Candidate Questionnaire

District 6A (Near North Side, West Town):

• Brenda Lee Anderson – Candidate Questionnaire
• Anusha Thotakura – Candidate Questionnaire
• Isaiah White – No Questionnaire Received

District 6B (Greater Grand Crossing, Grand Boulevard, Washington Park, Near South Side, the Loop, Douglas, Woodlawn, Englewood, Fuller Park, Hyde Park):

• Brittany B. Kimble – Candidate Questionnaire
• Michael L. Neal – Candidate Questionnaire

District 7A (South Lawndale, Near West Side, Lower West Side, Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights):

• Jesus Ayala Jr. – Candidate Questionnaire
• Emma Lozano – Candidate Questionnaire

District 7B (Brighton Park, Lower West Side, Archer Heights, Bridgeport, Gage Park, West Elsdon, Armour Square, McKinley Park):

• Erika E. Diaz-Chavez – No Questionnaire Received
• Yesenia Lopez – No Questionnaire Received

District 8A (Ashburn, Garfield Ridge, Clearing, West Lawn, Chicago Lawn, West Elsdon):

• Angel Gutierrez – No Questionnaire Received

District 8B (New City, Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, the Loop, Brighton Park, West Lawn, Near South Side, Armour Square):

• Juan Ignacio Gonzalez – No Questionnaire Received

District 9A (Auburn Gresham, West Englewood, Englewood, New City, Ashburn, Washington Heights):

• Brittany R. Bailey Preston – No Questionnaire Received

District 9B (Roseland, West Pullman, Morgan Park, Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Washington Heights):

• Therese Boyle – Candidate Questionnaire
• Katherine S. Dunneback – Candidate Questionnaire

District 10A (South Shore, Woodlawn, Greater Grand Crossing, Hyde Park, Kenwood, South Chicago, Douglas, Oakland):

• Che “Rhymefest” Smith – No Questionnaire Received
• Tameka Walton – Candidate Questionnaire

District 10B (South Deering, Hegewisch, Riverdale, East Side, Chatham, South Chicago, Pullman, Calumet Heights, Avalon Park, Burnside, South Shore):

• Connie Anderson – Candidate Questionnaire
• Rosita Chatonda – No Questionnaire Received
• Patrick C. Watson – No Questionnaire Received

You can check your district using this tool. Early Voting begins October 1 and continues through November 3 at the Loop Supersite (137 S State St) and Chicago Board of Elections Offices (69 W Washington, 6th Fl), and begins in all wards on Monday, October 19.