The Chicago Teachers Union is more political machine than labor union, putting nearly $1.8 million into the campaigns of 84 of 177 current lawmakers since 2010. But it may be losing its hold on Springfield.
Nearly half of the Illinois General Assembly’s members have received money from the Chicago Teachers Union, and 2-in-5 of the recipients are from outside the city.
The union has funneled nearly $1.8 million into the campaign coffers of 84 of the current 177 lawmakers, according to Illinois Board of Elections data. Of those, at least 36 aren’t even in Chicago.
The union’s political giving, along with its track record of getting what it wants in the legislature, is evidence of its outsized political influence on state lawmakers. But there are signs CTU’s days as a political powerhouse could be numbered.
CTU has contributed to nearly half of current lawmakers
The union has funneled nearly $1.8 million into the campaign coffers of 84 of the 177 state lawmakers since 2010. That is when a radical slate of union leaders, known as the Caucus of Rank and File Educators, took over CTU. CORE launched the union into years of activism, strikes and political wrangling.
CTU’s contributions include:
- $1,044,746 to current Illinois state senators.
- $721,250 to current Illinois state representatives.
- Donations to 84 of the 118 Democrats in the General Assembly – or 71% of the Democratic lawmakers in the General Assembly.
- Donations to zero Republicans.
CTU’s contributions to Illinois lawmakers is only one component of its political spending. From 2010 to 2024, the union spent more than $24.3 million on Illinois politics.
At least 36 lawmakers getting CTU money aren’t in Chicago
CTU doesn’t just try to influence Chicago lawmakers. It has donated to at least 36 current Illinois lawmakers whose districts are outside the city and school district, showing its interests go well beyond the school district’s boundaries.
CTU’s funding of lawmakers far outside its district shows the union wants to affect what happens to all Illinoisans.
CTU may be losing its hold on Springfield
CTU has a track record of getting what it wants in Springfield, but that influence might be waning.
In the 103rd Illinois General Assembly, which ran 2023-2024, CTU told lawmakers what to do on 59 bills. Lawmakers followed CTU’s bidding on 60% of those bills.
In the current 104th General Assembly, which runs 2025-2026, CTU told lawmakers what to do on 20 bills. It only got its way on six, or 30%. While a little more than half the session is yet to come, it could be an indicator lawmakers are wary of CTU’s antics and demands.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has also signaled he won’t go along with CTU’s demands for more money from the state.
“What CTU and the [Chicago] mayor are talking about, which is providing another $1 billion, another $1.6 billion for Chicago Public Schools, that’s just not gonna happen,” he said.
What’s more, Chicagoans really don’t like CTU. According to a 2025 poll, 60% of Chicago voters have an unfavorable view of the union. More than 57% are less likely to vote for a candidate if they accept campaign contributions from CTU.
The people of Chicago really don’t like the union, and lawmakers may be wary of appearing to do the union’s bidding. With its political influence waning, maybe the union should focus on what should have been Job No. 1 all along: better educating Chicago’s children.
