Sendhil Revuluri Releases Final Statement After Suspending CPS Board President Campaign

Former CPS Board VP raised more from individual Chicagoans than any other candidate; says he'll endorse only if a remaining candidate shows "the integrity and courage that our students need"

CHICAGO, October 2, 2026 – Sendhil Revuluri, the former Chicago Board of Education Vice President, teacher, and current CPS parent who suspended his campaign for President of the Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday, today released a final statement to supporters and reporters.

"This wasn't an easy decision," Revuluri said. "I ran my campaign the way I hope our schools are governed: realistically, honestly, and focused on our students' success. But given that it’s turned into a proxy political fight using millions of special interest money, I can't responsibly keep asking Chicagoans for their contributions, their time, or their votes."

Revuluri discussed his campaign suspension this week on WGN News' The Point with Tahman Bradley and FOX 32's Chicago Report with Anita Blanton.

Revuluri thanked his family, campaign staff, volunteers, and advisors, along with the hundreds of donors and thousands of Chicagoans—students, parents, educators, and neighbors—who supported the campaign.

"I'm grateful to every person who gave their time, money, and energy to this campaign," Revuluri said. "Our staff and volunteers worked tirelessly for a year, collected signatures from all 50 wards, and never lost sight of why we were doing this. I couldn't have asked for a better team, and Chicago's students couldn't have asked for better advocates."

Over the past year, more individual Chicagoans contributed to Revuluri's campaign than to any other candidate's. He raised nearly twice as much from individual donors, and more than double from Chicago donors specifically, as his nearest opponent. But that people-powered, student-focused support couldn't keep pace with millions of dollars from special-interest groups:

• Hilario Dominguez's committee has reported zero dollars from individual donors and is funded almost entirely by CTU-affiliated PACs.

• Jessica Biggs's committee has taken in [close to $200,000 in union money](LINK TO FILING), well over half her fundraising total. She is now also the beneficiary of Brighter Futures Chicago, an SEIU Super PAC, spending well beyond what her own committee has reported.

"It shows something important," Revuluri said. "Despite raising more from real people than anyone else in this race, the gusher of special-interest cash has crowded out the voices of real Chicagoans, and moved the focus of this election from our students to politics as usual."

Revuluri said the election should be focused on one question that has too often gotten lost in the noise: whether all of Chicago's students are set up to succeed.

He is not endorsing a candidate at this time. "I haven't yet seen evidence that any of the other candidates have the integrity and courage that our students need," he said. "If one of them shows they're willing to tell the truth about the district's budget, confront the reality of half-empty schools, and always stay focused on our students' success, I'll say so."

Revuluri said he intends to keep working toward better outcomes for Chicago's students, in whatever form that takes next. 

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