CTA-Endorsed Candidates Progress to General Election 

(BURLINGAME): This weekend, the 800 delegates of the California Teachers Association’s top policy-making body, the State Council of Education, met to determine the union’s recommendations for November’s general elections. At the heart of those recommendations is a determination to elect California leaders who will fight for the safe, stable, fully-funded public schools that California students deserve.

Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Richard Barrera spoke to a packed crowd at CTA’s June State Council, “Ensuring that California’s public schools are fully funded is more than a technical issue, it means students and educators have what they need so that young people can move forward and can lead our state,” said Barrera. “Together, we are fighting to build a future and an economy that is driven by the people you are educating in your classrooms right now.”

“Richard Barrera advanced through this primary because he has shown a depth of commitment to public schools and working families for decades and California educators are confident that he will be victorious in November” said CTA President David B. Goldberg. “Barrera is the only candidate who will work to protect the future of public education in California, and ensure public schools are fully-funded and accessible for everyone. We are ready to do whatever it takes to elect Richard Barrera as our next Superintendent of Public Instruction – the future of California is at stake in this election.”

Positions on ballot measures include:

Homeownership Loan Program Act: Support
Save Prop. 13: Oppose
CA Voter ID: Oppose
Clinic Funding Transparency Act: Oppose
Billionaire Tax Act: Oppose
Recall Elections: No Recommendation
Public Campaign Financing: No Recommendation
Health Care Executive Compensation Act: No Recommendation
Auto Accident Self-Dealing Act: No Recommendation
Sexual Assault Against Rideshare Passengers: No Recommendation

Regarding the California Billionaire Tax Act

After thorough review and democratic debate about the Billionaire Tax Act, our State Council of Delegates – 800 educator representatives from throughout the state – determined that this policy will not provide the sustainable and long-lasting funding that our schools and communities deserve. Our union has a long and robust history of fighting to ensure corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share. Californians generate the wealth that fuels our economy – the fourth largest in the world. It is core to our mission as a union and as educators to fight for a just society. It’s why we were the major funder of Proposition 15 in 2020. It’s also why we have championed taxes on the wealthiest Californians since 2012 when we passed Proposition 30 on the ballot to fund education, healthcare and other essential services, we put boots on the ground to extend those taxes with Proposition 55 and are now thrilled and ready to ensure a permanent extension in November 2026. Along with labor allies, SEIU CA, CFT, CSEA, AFSCME CA and the California Professional Firefighters, we submitted 1.6 million signatures for this proposition and are already planning a bold and dynamic campaign to win in November. Our commitment to just and sustainable tax policy for California’s public schools and communities is unwavering.

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The 310,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3-million-member National Education Association.