Preston Unopposed in Chicago District 9a School Board Race
Brittany Bailey Preston is the sole candidate after Angel Velez was removed from the ballot following signature challenges.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Administration
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Brittany Bailey Preston, wife of state Sen. Willie Preston, is the only candidate in the Chicago School Board District 9a race. Angel Velez, Mayor Brandon Johnson's appointee to the seat, was removed from the ballot after a large share of his signatures were invalidated.
Why it matters
With no opponent on the ballot, the November 3, 2026 election will effectively decide the District 9a seat for Preston, a majority-Black district in Chicago's school system. Velez said he would not pursue a write-in candidacy.
District 9a contains 47 neighborhood, charter and magnet schools, and 32% of its students attend their neighborhood school compared with 46% across the system. The source does not detail how Velez's signatures were ruled invalid.
The players
Brittany Bailey Preston
Wife of Illinois state Sen. Willie Preston and sole candidate for the Chicago School Board District 9a seat, backed by SEIU Illinois Council political action committee.
Angel Velez
Mayor Brandon Johnson's appointee to the District 9a seat who was removed from the ballot after signature challenges.
The details
The District 9a seat was previously held by Frank Thomas, who resigned in June 2025. Preston's largest campaign donation came from the SEIU Illinois Council political action committee, and her campaign was backed by groups opposing the Chicago Teachers Union.
Timeline
June 2025: Frank Thomas resigns from the District 9a seat.
July 2026: Angel Velez is removed from the ballot after signature invalidation.
November 3, 2026: Election for the District 9a seat.
Season Trajectory
The uncontested District 9a race continues a pattern in Chicago's elected school board, where appointed seats and political alignments often determine who reaches the ballot. The outcome reflects how signature challenges can reshape local races before voters ever weigh in.
Chicago voters in District 9a will have only one name on the November 3, 2026 ballot for school board. Residents who want a different candidate will need to check whether a write-in option is available.
The takeaway
A single-candidate race means the choice on the ballot is largely settled before election day, so District 9a residents should review Preston's platform and the school enrollment data for their neighborhood schools.
Further reading
Explore more on Administration for context on how Chicago school board governance works.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
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