Lewis re-elected as Chicago Teachers Union president

Karen Lewis says she and her slate of candidates have been re-elected to top offices of the Chicago Teachers Union.

Lewis, the union’s president, said she and others running with her received about 80 percent of Friday’s vote. About 25,000 union members were eligible to cast ballots in the race between Lewis, Vice President Jesse Sharkey and opponents Tanya Saunders-Wolffe and Mark Ochoa.

Lewis led Chicago’s teachers on a seven-day strike that kept more than 350,000 students out of school last year. It was Chicago’s first teachers strike in 25 years.

In recent weeks, Lewis has harshly criticized plans to close dozens of schools that city and board of education officials say are underutilized.

The union has backed two lawsuits seeking an injunction that would block closure of 53 schools.