Students and Communities Win on Election Night
All statewide CTA-recommended candidates and propositions emerge successful;
Educators win school board bids in 20 different races

BURLINGAME – Educators are celebrating Tuesday’s election wins on behalf of their students and communities. All statewide CTA-recommended candidates and propositions emerged successful including Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Governor Gavin Newsom, Malia Cohen for Controller, Rob Bonta for Attorney General, and the other constitutional officers.

“Thank you, California, for your ongoing support for students, educators and neighborhood public schools and thank you for your trust,” said CTA President E. Toby Boyd. “We know that our public schools work best when parents and educators collaborate on what students need and address the real issues facing our public schools. We are excited to work together with educators, parents and elected officials to expand the state’s community schools’ program, address the teacher shortage, improve educator salaries, and provide all students with the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

“We extend a heartfelt congratulations for a landslide victory to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has championed record public education funding, universal transitional kindergarten and the largest-in-the-nation investment in community schools during his first term,” said Boyd. “We are thrilled for Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a champion of public education and a proven leader during the most difficult times in recent history. We look forward to working alongside both leaders another four years.”

Educator recommendations on the state propositions were similarly successful, with all five of CTA’s endorsed positions victorious.

Students and educators alike rejoiced when Proposition 28 returns showed voters agree on the critical importance of arts and music programs to student success and will hopefully end the practice of putting these programs first on the chopping block during lean budget years.

Californians said no to Lyft and no to Prop. 30, a massive victory after polls early in the campaign had shown the misleading measure with a double-digit lead. But after a massive public information campaign powered by CTA educators and Gov. Gavin Newsom, voters realized that Prop. 30 was not all it claimed to be.

“With the defeat of Proposition 30, Californians affirmed their support tonight for public education and the integrity of the minimum school funding guarantee, Prop. 98,” Boyd said on Election Night. “Californians support green energy but were not willing to foot the bill for a private corporation and a deceptive measure.”

Proposition 1 was called early Tuesday evening indicating voters overwhelmingly supported a woman’s right to choose.

“The United States Supreme Court stripped women of those constitutional rights and control over personal and private decisions and handed that power to state lawmakers instead,” said Boyd. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and the overwhelming support of California voters, reproductive freedom and access to basic health care remains a fundamental human right in California.”

We are still monitoring hundreds of school board elections throughout the state, but educators running for election to school boards across the state were widely successful, with at least 20 CTA members and staff currently winning seats in districts throughout California. San Luis Coastal Teachers Association member Dawn Addis will likely be moving from the classroom to the Capitol representing Assembly District 30.

Congratulations to the other statewide winners: Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, State Controller Malia Cohen, Board of Equalization, District 2 Sally Lieber and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.

CTA Recommendations
Governor: Gavin Newsom
Lt. Governor: Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of State: Dr. Shirley Weber
Controller: Malia Cohen
Treasurer: Fiona Ma
Attorney General: Rob Bonta
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony Thurmond
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara
U.S. Senator: Alex Padilla  

The statewide initiatives currently stand at:
Yes on Prop. 1 (Reproductive Freedom): Yes – 65%, No – 35%
No on Prop. 27 (Online Sports Wagering): Yes – 16.7%, No – 83.3%
Yes on Prop. 28 (Arts and Music Education Funding): Yes – 61.5%, No – 38.5%
No on Prop. 30 (Lyft Tax Grab): Yes – 40.9%, No – 59.1%
Prop. 31 (Ban on Flavored Tobacco): Yes – 62.3%, No – 37.7%

###

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