Election 2026
As educators, we care deeply for our students and profession and know that what happens on the ballot greatly impacts our classrooms. That’s why interviewing and recommending pro-public education candidates and taking pro-public education positions on California initiatives is important to CTA members. Together, we can help elect lawmakers and pass initiatives that share our values and support public education, students, our profession and our communities!
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Our Fight for School Funding
Extending Prop. 55 is vital for preserving the resources we have and achieving more in the future. Without an extension, our schools will lose funding by 2030.
Prop 55 Extension
Vote to Strengthen Our Schools and Communities
2026 is a critical year for public education. Public education is under attack, and we have the power at the ballot box to fight back and dedicate necessary resources to elect champions of public education and unions—from school board members all the way up to the California legislature and Congress. Let’s show our collective strength as a union to advocate for the schools and communities our students deserve.
Did you know that CTA recommendations for candidates and ballot measures are voted on by our State Council of Education?
Nearly 800 State Council delegates meet four times a year and are all democratically elected educators from across California. This is where candidate recommendations made by local union members and approved by the CTA Board are brought to the floor for debate and final approval.
Interviews and recommendations for pro-public education candidates and pro-public education positions on California initiatives are extensive, deliberate and important work in our union.
Recommended Candidates and Initiatives
Our Recommendation Process
CTA’s recommendation process involves interview teams of local educators from throughout the state, who interview candidates and evaluate them on a variety of criteria, including:
- Their positions on and vision for K-12, community college and higher education issues.
- Their historical support for public education, students and educators, in such areas as education funding, budget stability, safe schools and campuses for all students, collective bargaining, educator professional rights, charter school accountability, and equal access to higher education.
- Their viability for success in the office that they are seeking.
Teams then make their recommendations to the CTA Board for discussion before being brought to CTA State Council (CTA’s top policy-making body, with 800 delegates), which debates and makes final recommendations.