Metropolitan Water Board Elects Three Commissioners

Voters chose three of six candidates for seats on the nine-member Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board in Chicago.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Metropolitan Water Board Elects Three Commissioners

Live Poll

Do you think flooding and water management in your area are getting better?

Polls have closed in the election for three six-year seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board, where six candidates, three Republicans and three Democratic incumbents, competed. Incumbent Democrat Cameron Davis ran unopposed for an unexpired two-year term.

Why it matters

The MWRD board oversees stormwater and wastewater systems that have come under strain from intense rainfall and pollutants such as forever chemicals. As these issues have moved into mainstream attention, the commissioner role has drawn more public interest for Chicago residents.

Three six-year seats on the nine-member MWRD board were decided by the top three vote-getters among six candidates. Final vote counts and winners were not available in the source material at the time of writing.

The players

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

The regional agency that manages wastewater treatment and stormwater control for the Chicago area through its Deep Tunnel system.

Cameron Davis

A Democratic incumbent who ran unopposed for an unexpired two-year term on the MWRD board.

The details

Candidates included Republicans Michelle Pennington, Timothy Rueckert and Jill Shestokas, and Democratic incumbents Eira Corral Sepúlveda, Precious Brady-Davis and Beth McElroy Kirkwood. Candidates promoted green infrastructure expansion and prescription medication take-back events as priorities.

Polls closed on November 3, 2026.

Political Context

The MWRD board's Deep Tunnel system, built to relieve Chicago's flooding, is now operating at its current limit as intense rainfall increases, so the seats up for election determine who guides that aging infrastructure. Every current commissioner is a Democrat, which means this race will test whether voters widen partisan representation on a board that now faces growing environmental demands.

Chicago residents who depend on MWRD services for stormwater drainage and wastewater treatment will see the results shape how the district handles flooding and pollution. The winners will help set priorities for green infrastructure and pollutant management in the years ahead.

The takeaway

Local water board seats affect flood protection and drinking water quality, so checking which candidates address these issues before future elections can help voters make informed choices.