Voters delivered big wins for educators Tuesday night

WASHINGTON - A shining sea of red comprising public school teachers and education support professionals, frustrated, agitated and fed up, spread across the nation this spring. After seeing years of legislative neglect and the chronic underfunding of public education, educators now are running for office in unprecedented numbers this fall across the country. Voters in primaries delivered big wins for educators Tuesday night.

Thirteen educators will be on the ballot in Minnesota this November. Veteran educator Tim Walz secured the Democratic nomination for governor, educator Dan Feehan won the Democratic nomination to represent the first Congressional District in Washington, and educator Julie Blahla won her primary to become the nominee for state auditor in Minnesota. In Wisconsin, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers won the Democratic nomination for governor, setting up a showdown against unpopular two-term governor Scott Walker. Elsewhere, Jahana Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year, won the Democratic nomination for the fifth Congressional District in Connecticut.

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Lily Eskelsen García:

"On behalf of the more than three million educators the NEA represents, I congratulate the outstanding educators who won their respective primaries Tuesday night, joining a growing national movement of educators running for office and demanding the public schools our students deserve.

"As educators, we know that public education is the backbone of the American dream. It’s a promise that all students, no matter where they live, no matter how much money their parents earn, or who they are or where they were born, can receive a great public education. It’s why we do what we do.

"Now, we have a chance to make history and elect to office public education champions who will raise their voices and fight for our students and public education in state houses, schools boards, and in Washington this fall. This is our time, this is a movement, and this is our movement. We will remember in November."

Follow us @NEAMedia #Seeeducatorsrun