CTU-backed candidates lose 7 of 13 contested races

By Dylan Sharkey

03/17/2026

As Illinois’ election results roll in, candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union are losing most of their contested races.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

How will CTU-backed candidates fare in the primary?

By Lilly Rossi

03/16/2026

The Chicago Teachers Union endorsed and financially backed candidates for federal, state and local elections in the March 17 primary.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Poll: Chicago Teachers Union hits record-low popularity among Chicagoans

By Mailee Smith

03/11/2026

Just 27.5% of Chicago voters have a favorable opinion of CTU. Half are less likely to vote for a candidate who takes money from the union.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage

By Paul Vallas

01/27/2026

Record Cook County property tax hikes under Toni Preckwinkle expose a fundamentally broken system, benefitting insiders and costing everyone else.

TAGS: Toni Preckwinkle

Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall

By Patrick Andriesen

05/30/2025

Springfield lawmakers are close to hiking road tolls, taxing rideshare services as well as real estate sales for everyone in Cook and the collar counties.

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2024

Years of exorbitant political spending in Illinois – more than $24.3 million since 2010 – has secured an enormous amount of political influence for the Chicago Teachers Union. It is now the main political player not just in Chicago, but across the state.

Vallas: 8 ways to fix Chicago housing crisis without Johnson’s tax hike

By Paul Vallas

03/26/2024

Now that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate transfer tax has failed, here are eight practical ways Chicago can provide more affordable housing without raising taxes.

Chicago Teachers Union wants revenue meant for homeless if mayor’s tax hike passes

By Mailee Smith

03/15/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union has poured at least $400,000 into Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tax hike proposal. If it passes, the union wants to use the taxes generated to fund housing for its own members.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’

By Paul Vallas

02/23/2024

Illinois is on an upward path, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during his State of the State speech. True, by some measures. Not so much by too many measures that matter.

3 ways Chicago Mayor Johnson is likely to repay unions for bankrolling him

By Mailee Smith

08/24/2023

Nearly 83% of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s funding has been from unions, according to data obtained from Illinois Sunshine. More than half of that came from teachers unions. Here are three ways we could see him pay them back.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Toni Preckwinkle

CTU-backed candidates lose 7 of 13 contested races

How will CTU-backed candidates fare in the primary?

Poll: Chicago Teachers Union hits record-low popularity among Chicagoans

Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage

Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

Vallas: 8 ways to fix Chicago housing crisis without Johnson’s tax hike

Chicago Teachers Union wants revenue meant for homeless if mayor’s tax hike passes

Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’

3 ways Chicago Mayor Johnson is likely to repay unions for bankrolling him

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students