Pro-Public Education Candidates Win Offices across the State
The results of Election Day demonstrated that a resounding number of Marylanders want to see increased funding for public schools, with Question 1 winning 89% of the vote and earning more votes than any other candidate or measure on the entire ballot. The passage of Question 1 means that Maryland’s Constitution will be amended so that casino revenues will finally go to increasing school funding.
“Educators are thrilled that such an overwhelming number of Marylanders voted for increased funding for our public schools,” said Baltimore County elementary school teacher and Maryland State Education Association President Cheryl Bost. “The $500 million annually that Question 1 will add is the first step to closing the $2.9 billion annual funding gap that negatively impacts students, educators, and schools across the state. Keeping the promise on casino revenues was the easy part. To meet the commitments our students and schools deserve will take the continued support and activism of Marylanders to make sure that the Governor and legislature permanently closes this gap when the General Assembly convenes in January.”
While a number of races are still too close to call, educators once again showed the value of their endorsement. MSEA members knocked on thousands of doors, made thousands more contacts via phone calls and text messages, and handed out more than 430,000 Apple Ballots at the polls during the general election. Educator-endorsed candidates were victorious in 71% of races during the general election.
Some of the notable victories powered by educator activism included:
- Educator-endorsed candidates win crucial General Assembly seats: Ron Young (District 3), Kathy Klausmeier (District 8), Katie Hester (District 9), Clarence Lam (District 12), Sarah Elfreth (District 30), and Pam Beidle (District 32) all emerged victorious in the Senate, while a number of educator-endorsed candidates picked up seats in the House of Delegates, including former teacher Ken Kerr (District 3B), Harry Bhandari (District 8), Courtney Watson (District 9B), Brian Crosby (District 29B), and Alice Cain (District 30A). MSEA ran significant volunteer and paid programs in each of these races.
- Game-changing County Executive wins: Educator-recommended County Executive candidates had a banner night, including victories by former teachers and MSEA members Johnny Olszewski (Baltimore County) and Marc Elrich (Montgomery County) and by challengers Steuart Pittman (Anne Arundel County) and Calvin Ball (Howard County), both of whom made education a centerpiece of their campaigns. Educator-recommended candidates Jan Gardner (Frederick County) and Barry Glassman (Harford County) also won convincingly. MSEA and local associations ran large volunteer efforts to support these candidates and invested in sizeable paid programs, including television ads, for Olszewski, Elrich, and Pittman.
