RFS feel-good update (9/26): Our 50 State School Board Strategy
We'll fight for education anywhere it's under attack
Hi all -
For those who observed, hope you had a good & easy fast yesterday.
Today we’re back at it — ICYMI, last week we rolled out our 50 State School Board Strategy — our plan to fight for public education anywhere it’s under attack (so: everywhere.)
You can read more about our plan — an initial $3 million pilot in 2024 that could scale to upwards of $7 million a year — in The Daily Beast or The Messenger.
Here’s some context to consider: Over the last three years, the GOP has invested immense resources to win school and library board elections – outside “grassroots” organizations like Moms for Liberty and the 1776 Project PAC have partnered with establishment conservative organizations like the Leadership Institute to recruit, train, and support candidates for school boards, all funded by GOP mega-donors. Just last week, Moms for Liberty released their campaign starter kits for people seeking a run for school board.
Their programs include in-person and online training with speakers like Sen. Ted Cruz, a podcast and additional asynchronous content explaining how to run for school board, and of course, direct donations to and independent expenditure campaigns on behalf of chosen school board candidates.
The right is also supporting protesters at school board meetings, harassing elected officials, and in some cases, scaring people out of running against them for these offices.
Once they win these offices, they’re using the power of these offices to ban books —33% more book bans in 2022-2023 than in the year prior — fire teachers and administrators, end diversity and equity programs, make schools dangerous for LGBTQ+ kids, and reject curriculums that reckon with America’s history.
On a political level, the GOP is taking advantage of the anxiety parents felt during and after 2020 to cement the idea that theirs is the party for “parents’ rights.” It’s a not-so-subtle attempt to make “parent” the most salient part of someone’s political identity – a voter might not align with the GOP on all issues or tone but “as a parent,” they see the GOP as advocates for their kids.
This is not just a flash-in-the-pan trend. Republicans have opened a 6000 sq. foot headquarters for “conservative education activism” in Florida and are in this for the long-haul.
Their efforts are not limited to red states or communities; we’ve seen proposed book bans and Moms for Liberty-endorsed school board candidates run and win in places as varied as Miami, Newtown, CT, suburban Chicago, and California.
On the left, organizations across the ecosystem are each taking on a piece of the work, and there are key legal fights as well. Many of these organizations are included in Run for Something’s partnership network.
Run for Something’s role is with the candidates themselves: Because of our scale and skills we are well-positioned to both recruit and support school board candidates in all the races and places we need them.
We’ll build on the existing RFS infrastructure in order be able to recruit and support school board candidates in as many places as possible.
Nationwide, more than 60% of school board races go uncontested; in Virginia this year, 56% of school board races are uncontested (and in fact, 9 districts haven’t had a competitive school board race since 2000.)
You can read about the far-right efforts to win school boards in Virginia in Rolling Stone, including how RFS candidate Madison Irving is part of the effort to stop them. His candidate is a self-described woman who is “[T]hat mom. Anti-mask, anti-vax, anti-abortion … the school board’s worst enemy.” (Again - she’s running for school board.)
This is a big program that requires a big investment. If you’d like the full prospectus and details on how it’ll work, just reply to this email and I’ll send it right over.
If you’d rather listen to learn more about this work, I joined The New Abnormal podcast on Sunday to explain we’re going all in on school boards.
If you’re looking to volunteer for a school board race right now, a few excellent options:
Amelia McMillan is running for Central York School Board, PA. If elected, Amelia would be the first millennial and youngest sitting member on the Central York School Board. Email here to sign up.
Katy Frey is running for West Chester School Board, Region 1. If elected, Katy would be the youngest person and only Gen-Z member on the school board. Email here to sign up.
Heather Broman is running for Penn Hills School Board, PA. If elected, Heather would be the only LGBTQIA+ parent on the school board. Email here to sign up.
Clay Hale is running for San Jose-Evergreen Community College Board, CA. If elected, Clay would be the only high school teacher and LGBTQIA+ member in the San José-Evergreen Community College District. Sign up here to volunteer.
Amber Epling is running for Worthington School Board, OH. If elected, Amber would be one of two candidates in this race endorsed by the local teachers union. Sign up here to volunteer.
I’m extremely fired up about this new program — our team would be happy to chat more with you about it if you’re interested. Just reply to let me know!
In other RFS community updates:
Just call PA-HD21 the Run for Something seat — Lindsay Powell won her special election last week, ensuring Democrats maintain control of the state house, and taking the baton from RFS alum Sara Innamorato, who earlier this year, won her election for Allegheny County Executive. Build! That! Bench!
Obsessed with this story in North Carolina about the young leaders stepping into the spotlight, including RFS endorsed candidates Catherine Fray, Matt Hughes, and “Eliazar Posada, a member of the Carrboro Town Council, never imagined he’d run for office. As a queer Latino millennial, he knew his background was different from that of most politicians. His mother organized farmworkers in Texas. His family was homeless for a brief period in his childhood, and he made tacos with his mother to sell before school. “My mom always instilled in us that family and community is what we got. And we have their back, and they’ll have our back,” Posada said.”
Illinois became the first state to fully end cash bail thanks to the leadership of state Sen. Robert Peters.
Run for Something candidates & alum are in some of the most critical races for control of the VA state legislature this year — including Susanna Gibson, Michael Feggans, and Schuyler VanValkenburg especially. If we don’t win these races, as Vanity Fair puts it, Virginia could be the next Florida.
Save the date: Our next Unapologetically Progressive event will be October 4 in Pittsburgh, PA, hosted in partnership with Promote the Vote PA, Turn PA Blue, and PA Senate Democrats. RSVP here to join us in person or virtually. It’s 100% free, just claim your spot!
Thank you for making this work possible. We’re able to take the fight to where it matters most — at the most local level — because of you.
- Amanda
This is such an important and sadly necessary initiative. I'm spreading the word, making a donation, and asking others to do the same. Too late tomorrow.
Your Sunday interview with The New Abnormal was fantastic! Everyone should listen.
Your new program is smart, strategic, and (with sufficient financial and volunteer support) will be game-changing.