Michilla 'Kyla' Blaise wins West Side District 5b Chicago School Board race

SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard District 5b neighborhoods: North Lawndale, Near West Side, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, West Town Michilla “Kyla” Blaise will continue to represent a large swath of the West Side on the Chicago School Board after winning a close race for District 5b. Blaise, a political aide backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, received just over 52% of the vote, with all precincts reporting Monday, according to the Associated Press. Election officials have until Nov. 17 to finish counting mail-in ballots and provisional ballots. Final official results are due on Nov. 24. Blaise, who was appointed to the school board in 2024 by Mayor Brandon Johnson, beat out challenger Anthony Hargrove , who made a second attempt at the seat after failing to make the ballot two years ago. Hargrove, who runs programs to help dropouts get back in school, had support from the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents CPS support staff, charter school advocates like the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that’s heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks. District 5b is one of the school board’s most economically diverse, stretching from the wealthy West Loop to historically disinvested neighborhoods such as North Lawndale and Garfield Park. It includes several neighborhood high schools struggling with declining enrollment, as well as some of CPS’ most in-demand magnet schools. Students who attend school here are mostly Black and Hispanic. Students in District 5b are less likely to attend their neighborhood school than students in any other voting district in the city. Only 6% chose their local high school, while 35% chose their neighborhood elementary school. The candidates homed in on different issues during the race. Blaise said she was focused on increasing funding for CPS, addressing declining enrollment and improving student mental health, while Hargrove zeroed in on improving reading and math proficiency, refining special education and expanding vocational and career education. The two candidates aligned on some issues. They both support stronger restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence and cellphones in the classroom, and both oppose closing schools for any reason. Notably, Blaise led the effort to pass a CPS budget that reversed some proposed cuts but banked on the state to provide $150 million in funding it had not committed. On his candidate questionnaire, Hargrove said the school board should continue to advocate for additional state funding and look for other savings “before cutting classroom programs or student services.” Contributing: Mary Norkol Chicago School Board election results What you need to know about all 21 races Political groups spent $12 million to defeat CTU candidates. One losing race cost $76 per vote. CTU poised to capture half of school board district seats, but loses president’s race Jessica Biggs wins president race SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard Elvia Malagón Chicago Sun-Times Reporter Next Up In Elections Class of 2027 Illinois congressional delegation arrives in Washington Emma Lozano wins District 7a Chicago School Board race Chicagoans overwhelmingly support a permanent festival grounds like Milwaukee’s Summerfest. What’s next? Term limits to be eased in Alsip, potentially benefiting controversial mayor Maybe 450,000 Lollapalooza fans trampling Grant Park every year isn't such a good idea Political groups spent $12 million to defeat CTU candidates. One losing race cost $76 per vote.