States

Over 170 Teachers Ran for State Office in 2018. Here’s What We Know About Them

By Daarel Burnette II, Madeline Will & Maya Riser-Kositsky — July 17, 2018 1 min read
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In a year defined by educator activism, there were large numbers of teachers running for office. At least 177 current teachers filed to run for state legislative seats in 2018, an original Education Week analysis found. At least 43 current teachers won their races. All of the candidates—and their party affiliations, school districts, subjects taught, and other relevant information—are included in this searchable database.

More on this database:

  • EdWeek limited this database to current teachers running for their state legislatures. In the aftermath of the statewide teacher strikes and protests this spring, we wanted to shine a light on the teachers who were seeking to join a body that determines their pay and other policies that directly affect their profession.
  • EdWeek collected the most data on candidates in Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and West Virginia—states that had recently seen significant teacher unrest.
  • We collected the information from July to November 2018 using a variety of sources, including teacher organizations, news reports, and direct submissions through an online form. This list may not be exhaustive.
  • EdWeek staff verified each candidate.

See Also

Jennifer Esau, center, an Oklahoma teacher who is running for a state Senate seat, talks with Sandra Yost in Claremore, Okla., as she and her 16-year-old daughter Isabelle, right, canvass her district for votes earlier this month.
Jennifer Esau, center, an Oklahoma teacher who is running for a state Senate seat, talks with Sandra Yost in Claremore, Okla., as she and her 16-year-old daughter Isabelle, right, canvass her district for votes earlier this month.
Brandi Simons/Education Week

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Reporting: Maya Riser-Kositsky, Madeline Will, and Daarel Burnette II
Design & Visualization: Maya Riser-Kositsky, Vanessa Solis

This database was originally published July 17, 2018, with the headline, “Over 100 Teachers Are Running for State Office. Here’s What We Know About Them”.

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