Texas primary elections on Tuesday highlight school choice as a key issue after the Lone Star state struggled to pass legislation. Nine Republican incumbents lost their elections and eight more were pushed into runoffs on Tuesday. Considering the defeat of certain incumbents, the primary election favored Republican candidates who pushed for school choice.
School choice policies provide parents with alternatives to the public schools they’re zoned for. The primary results come after a recent report showing donations from teachers' unions supporting Republicans who previously rejected school choice measures. Ahead of primary election day on March 5th, the Texas American Federation of Teachers announced their endorsements. All 77 of the candidates endorsed by the union are Democrats.
The Hawkeye State joined a wave of red states passing universal school choice legislation when Reynolds signed an unprecedented school choice bill called the Students First Act. It allows any Iowa student to use public money to pay for private school tuition or other expenses. However, the Lone Star State has struggled to join the school choice phenomenon due to rural Republicans having been an obstacle to the effort.
Furthermore, Abbott on October 31st issued a proclamation expanding the special session agenda for 'universal school choice to include additional school finance, such as teacher pay raises, school safety, and special education' to appease concerns over the impact of public schools. A shift in the Texas legislature could enshrine school choice efforts in the Lone Star State, as GOP primary results indicate that voters favor school choice legislation.