Tommy Schultz, who leads the American Federation for Children (AFC), shared with Fox News Digital that their organization is actively working to remove adversaries of school choice as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
“We’re the sole school choice super PAC, and just last year we invested over $10 million across Texas and twelve other states,” Schultz noted. He added, “There’s a significant amount to accomplish, which is crucial for protecting and reinforcing the substantial historic gains made over the past four to five years in various states.”
The AFC Victory Fund is reportedly allocating $15 million to 200 races. Established in 2024, this fund uniquely focuses on school choice, while other pro-choice super PACs like Club for Growth also handle broader educational issues.
Schultz emphasized that the school choice movement has made remarkable strides, with Republican governors implementing universal school choice and the Trump administration introducing federal tax credit scholarships. In contrast, Democrats often advocate for directing taxpayer money to conventional public schools, although some Republicans also align with this view, garnering support from teachers’ unions.
“Significant victories in places like Texas have fostered a sentiment among Republicans against school choice, essentially warning them that they might face electoral consequences,” Schultz remarked. “For instance, we recently saw the downfall of anti-school choice Republican Jodi Barrett in a Congressional race.”
Barrett lost to Matt Van Epps in the Tennessee Republican primary. Barrett had earlier expressed concerns over Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s private school voucher initiative, arguing it primarily benefited wealthier districts.
“While the government deliberately chose not to track prior school enrollments, available data indicates that roughly 90% of scholarship recipients were already enrolled in private institutions,” she pointed out. “It is entirely feasible to advocate for school freedom while opposing flawed legislation.”
In many rural areas, Republican representatives often turn against school choice policies, including vouchers and charter schools. This stems from many states that limit parents to schools within their zip code, a restriction that poses challenges in rural areas where schools typically face funding shortages.
Schultz remarked that current governors in states like Texas, Iowa, and Tennessee have encountered difficulties in advancing universal school choice plans due to opposition from local Republicans. The concern among some is that funding intended for traditional public schools might be siphoned off.
“The upcoming 2026 election will cement the substantial school choice achievements we’ve had over the last five years,” Schultz noted, stating that 80 laws have been passed across 30 states, which has tripled the number of students in private school choice programs.
The AFC Victory Fund was instrumental in promoting the Texas Education Savings Account program, touted as the largest school choice initiative in the country since its inception on February 4. An Abbott administration spokesperson attributed much of this success to both the governor and the AFC Victory Fund’s backing of pro-choice candidates.
Currently, they are focusing efforts on the gubernatorial race in Arizona, where universal school choice policies may face threats. Arizona was the first state to launch a comprehensive school choice initiative, offering an $800 million program in 2022 that provides $7,000 per child for tuition.
Since then, several other states have started similar programs as parents increasingly seek alternatives to public schools, a trend magnified since the pandemic, which has seen many urban school districts losing students.
The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account Program has surpassed 100,000 participants. Initially, this program was launched in 2011 targeting students with special needs, but by 2022, enrollment had grown significantly from just 12,127 students.
Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona reportedly aims to reduce this program, having sought its cancellation initially. “We’re gearing up for considerable efforts out there,” Schultz declared, while Hobbs had yet to respond to inquiries about the situation.
