Democratic candidates may be putting themselves at a disadvantage by aligning closely with teachers unions and defending public school systems that are struggling, said Tommy Schultz, CEO of the conservative advocacy group American Federation for Children.
Schultz argued that voters are increasingly drawn to politicians with a positive education agenda, rather than candidates whose message is mainly opposition to school choice.
“The unions really don’t have an agenda other than keeping kids in schools they run and control,” he said. “That’s not a winning message.”
Teachers unions have opposed many school choice proposals, including vouchers and education savings accounts. They say such programs divert taxpayer money from public schools and argue that funding should instead support teacher pay, hiring and school improvements.
Democratic candidates in races for governor, Congress and state legislatures often back education policies favored by the unions. Financial analyses have found that the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the country’s two largest teachers unions, have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on political activity, lobbying and progressive advocacy over the past decade.
Both unions are major financial supporters of Democratic campaigns, though they have also backed some Republican candidates in rural areas who supported state funding for underfunded public schools.
Disputes between unions and parents have grown in recent years, amid concerns about students’ learning losses after pandemic-related school closures. Republicans have made school choice a major campaign issue, passing programs in some states that let families use public funds for private or other alternatives to their assigned public schools.
Recent Democratic victories in important state races could complicate the school choice movement’s efforts. In Texas, Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has signaled opposition to the state’s voucher program after defeating Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on November 3. Her win has prompted questions about the future of Abbott’s signature school choice law, which created one of the country’s largest education savings account programs.
Schultz described union support as a major factor in Democratic politics, saying the national unions and their affiliates bring in about $3 billion a year.
Texas’ Education Freedom Accounts program was established by the state legislature with an initial $1 billion allocation. It allows eligible families to use public funds for private school tuition and other approved education expenses, while raising questions about how the program could affect traditional public school districts.
Public school enrollment has declined in many large urban districts since the pandemic. Houston Independent School District, among others, has faced challenges retaining students as enrollment patterns change and families consider other options.
Schultz said he expects parent demand for school choice to keep influencing elections. Candidates who make the case for choice and offer a hopeful vision for education, he said, can win by emphasizing families’ ability to shape their children’s education.
The AFT and Hinojosa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The NEA shared a statement issued after the November 3 midterm elections.
NEA President Princess Moss said voters wanted a more affordable future, strong public schools and safer communities, and called on elected officials to prioritize working families, students and educators over wealthy interests.
