Jennifer Custer wins District 1 NW Side school board seat; area incumbents win Illinois House, Senate seats

by BRIAN NADIG

State representatives Lindsey LaPointe (D-19) and Mike Kelly (D-15) and state Senator Robert Martwick (D-10) were re-elected on Nov. 5, while Jennifer Custer defeated Michelle Pierre in the District 1 Northwest Side school board race.

Custer, a former suburban school teacher and administrator, received 44,430 votes, or 51.63 percent, compared to 41,627 votes, or 48.37 percent, for Pierre, a proponent of school choice who has worked at charter and public schools, according to unofficial vote totals.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th) endorsed Pierre, while many Northwest Side elected officials, including Martwick, LaPointe and Alderman James Gardiner (45th), put their support behind Custer, who also was backed by the Chicago Teachers Union. During her campaign, Custer was critical of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of school board issues.

Meanwhile, LaPointe received 27,378 votes, or 67.00 percent, compared to 13,485, or 33.00 percent, for her Republican challenger John Zimmers, a realtor. Kelly had 26,211 votes, or 61.78 percent, compared to 16,216 votes, 38.22 percent, for his Republican challenger Mark Albers, who also ran in 2022.

Martwick had 50,211 votes, or 59.84 percent, compared to 33,694 votes, or 40.16 percent, for his Republican challenger Jon Luers, who ran as a write-in candidate in 2022.

State Representative Brad Stephens (R-20) was unopposed.

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