Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1539593
O U R U N I O N J O I N E D a broad coalition of labor and commu- nity organizations, state legislators, local elected officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom in support of the Election Rigging Response Act, the statewide ballot initiative on Congressional redistricting planned for Nov. 4. In response to the ongoing erosion of our democracy and politically motivated gerrymandering in Texas, the CTA Board of Directors voted to join the crucial effort to stop Republican attempts to steal Congressional seats and rig the 2026 election. "If this power grab goes unchecked, we will only see more drastic cuts to public education, health care and other critical services, and a further erosion of basic civil and human rights in our communities," CTA President David Goldberg says. "is is a direct and urgent attack on our democracy." Gov. Newsom and California lawmakers called for a special election ballot measure this November that would redraw the state's congressional map to potentially gain five Congressional seats for Democrats. is initiative is a direct response to the recently approved redistricting in Texas, which is designed to add five Republican seats and help them maintain control of the House majority after the 2026 midterm elections. CTA Secretary-Treasurer Erika Jones spoke at the governor's press conference announcing the ballot initiative, sharing why the Election Rigging Response Act is critical to fighting back against Washington politicians who voted to slash public edu- cation and harm California communities (see previous story). "Of the nine Republican representatives in California — sev- eral refused to even meet with local teachers in their offices. Some lied directly to our faces and promised they wouldn't vote for draconian cuts to our schools and our health care. Only to go back to D.C. to side with Trump and vote to harm kids and families here in California," Jones said. "Given these extreme threats and these corrupt politicians who will throw their own communities under the bus, our union stands in full support of this ballot initiative. We are ready to do whatever it takes to stop this power grab and fight back against any and all attacks on our democracy, our students and public education." Goldberg says our union will continue to organize to pro- tect and defend our public schools in the face of numerous dangerous threats. "Over the past several months, we have seen the Trump administration freeze funds for critical education programs, cut health care for millions of our students and their families, attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, and pass a new voucher program designed to destroy public education entirely. There have also been unprecedented attacks on our immigrant communities and our LGBTQIA+ students and fam- ilies," says Goldberg. "Every member of Congress who would be impacted by redis- tricting in our state has repeatedly sided with corporations and billionaires over our students and communities. ey've made their priorities clear." Visit cta.org/Prop50 for more information, resources and how you can volunteer on the Election Rigging Response Act campaign. " We are ready to do whatever it takes to stop this power grabandfightbackagainst any and all attacks on our democracy, our students and public education." — CTA Secretary-Treasurer Erika Jones Unions Leading the Fight to Defend Democracy Redistricting: Vote YES Nov. 4 to Protect Public Education By Julian Peeples 28 cta.org Feature