Teacher activists said over and over again during this spring鈥檚 strikes known as #RedforEd that they鈥檒l 鈥渞emember in November鈥� when the midterm elections come around.
It looks like West Virginia鈥檚 teachers notched an early political victory during Tuesday night鈥檚 primary when they helped Republican candidate for state Senate Bill Hamilton defeat incumbent Republican state Sen. Robert Karnes, who they accused of saying some 鈥渘asty鈥� things about teachers during their nine-day strike and introducing bills that didn鈥檛 have teachers鈥� best interest in mind.
Hamilton, currently a state representative, has a 鈥渇ree spirit and doesn鈥檛 seem to be party bound,鈥� said Kym Randolph, a spokeswoman for West Virginia鈥檚 Education Association. 鈥淲e realize there are different degrees in the severity of fiscal conservatism here. Sometimes your moderate Republican is a good choice.鈥�
The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association are hoping to ride a groundswell of political momentum in this year鈥檚 state races after a series of walkouts, strikes, and protests in Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia.
At least 100 teachers in Kentucky and Oklahoma have filed to run for office, union leaders in those states say. And the National Education Association next week will hold a training forum for several dozen teachers across the nation who have put their hats in the ring for elected office.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an understanding that walkouts need to move to walk-ins to the ballot box,鈥� said AFT President Randi Weingarten. 鈥淭eachers are putting themselves out there to run on the values of getting their families and communities a better life. That sort of activism is inspiring.鈥�