Donors Poured Funds Into Chicago School Board Race
Michael Sacks and Paul Finnegan contributed heavily to Jessica Biggs' campaign for the school board presidency.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Philanthropy
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High-profile donors Michael Sacks and Paul Finnegan donated $150,000 and $100,000 respectively to Jessica Biggs' campaign for Chicago school board president. These contributions arrived as candidates for the city's 21-member oversight body continue to see significant financial backing.
Why it matters
The infusion of large-scale capital into local school board races highlights the growing influence of political action committees and wealthy individual donors in Chicago education policy. This funding surge arrives as candidates compete to shape the future of a system still marked by the legacy of 2013 school closures.
Jessica Biggs has raised $729,000, while competitors Hilario Dominguez and Victor Henderson have reached $963,000 and $671,000 in total funds respectively. Additionally, the Common Ground Collective super PAC has deployed over $2.6 million across the school board races.
The players
Michael Sacks
He is a prominent donor who contributed $150,000 to Jessica Biggs' campaign.
Jessica Biggs
She is a candidate for the president of the Chicago school board.
Paul Finnegan
He is a major donor who contributed $100,000 to Jessica Biggs and previously supported the Common Ground PAC.
Hilario Dominguez
He is a candidate for the school board who has raised $963,000 in campaign funds.
Victor Henderson
He is a candidate for the school board who has raised $671,000, including $501,000 in personal loans.
The details
The candidates are competing for seats on the 21-member body that manages Chicago Public Schools, relying on a mix of individual contributions and political action committee support. Large expenditures include $1 million from the Common Ground Collective against Hilario Dominguez and $450,000 from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools targeting the same candidate.
Timeline
2013: Mass school closures occurred under the Emanuel administration.
May 2026: Paul Finnegan donated $419,000 to the Common Ground PAC.
2024: The Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago.
October 2, 2026: Michael Sacks and Paul Finnegan donated to the Biggs campaign.
October 13, 2026: This article was published.
Market Landscape
This influx of funding reflects a broader trend of increased corporate and PAC involvement in local education elections to influence governance. These financial battles mirror the ongoing shift in Chicago's political landscape where significant external spending has become a standard feature of school board campaigns.
Residents may notice an increase in political advertising across the city as the millions in PAC spending translate into more frequent campaign messages. The record-breaking fundraising totals could also shift the focus of the school board toward the priorities favored by the largest donors.
The takeaway
The increasing reliance on large individual donors and super PACs suggests that future Chicago school board policy will be heavily influenced by these financial backers. Voters should review forthcoming campaign finance reports to understand the potential ties between candidates and their primary funders.
What happens next
Quarterly campaign finance reports for the candidates are expected to be filed later this week.
Further reading
Learn more about the influence of private donations in local governance on our Philanthropy page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Tribune.
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