California’s Union Teachers Knocked on an Unprecedented 500,000 Doors for School Board, Congress and Other Crucial Races
Contact JHoward@cta.org
As Votes are Counted, Educators Anticipate Major Victories, Plan for the Future
SACRAMENTO – California’s union educators got out the vote this election season by getting out of the classroom. Since Labor Day, members of the California Teachers Association (CTA), from more than 100 CTA affiliates, joined by others in their school communities, knocked on an unprecedented 500,000 doors across California. CTA members also traveled to Nevada to lend support to canvassing efforts for the Harris/Walz ticket in a critical swing state.
Much of the door-knocking by classroom teachers, school psychologists, nurses, counselors and librarians, bus drivers and school staff was in support of pro-public education candidates to school boards, community college boards, and county Boards of Education. In some parts of the state, volunteers also walked door-to-door for the passage of parcel taxes to fund school programs, as well as to advocate for bond measures to fix school facilities.
While final results in some key congressional races may take days if not weeks to determine, the participation of CTA members likely helped to move votes for CTA-endorsed candidates in key congressional races up and down the state.
“Education and pro-education candidates were on the ballot this Fall,” said CTA President David Goldberg. “This year, large numbers of CTA members recognized that local school board races, along with bond measures designed to fund repairs to school buildings, couldn’t be taken for granted. Congressional races and who occupies the White House are also consequential for public education.”
Across California, 2,000 school board seats were up this election season. In some communities, like Franklin-McKinley in the San Jose area, many educators had never canvassed before and walked every weekend during election season. In Sacramento, educators knocked on the door of every voter and sent thousands of hand-written letters in support of pro-public education candidates. In Los Angeles, educators talked to voters about the importance of electing educators to local school boards. In Temecula Valley, educators organized with the local community to elect pro-public education candidates and combat harmful policies targeting LGBTQ+ youth and communities passed by extremist board members last year. These are just a few of the many examples of CTA members walking this election season.
“We refused to sit on the sidelines while outside groups worked to hijack our school boards for agendas totally unrelated to our local school issues. We talked to voters in our communities and shared what our students really need – more resources and funding in our schools,” said Goldberg. “We’re confident that our conversations with voters will help secure victories today and in the years to come for public education and working families.”
For quotes and/or interviews with CTA affiliate leaders in local communities, please reach out to Jackie Howard jhoward@cta.org.
###