Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/994766
Massive influx of cash for charter candidates As of June 1, a handful of billionaires had accounted for much of the nearly $22.3 million given to the charter industry 's independent expenditure committees to elect Antonio Villara- igosa as governor, and about $8.5 million to privately run charter advocate and former Wall Street banker Marshall Tuck. See the infographic on the next page, which breaks down the charter industry 's unprecedented donations for Tuck and Villaraigosa. Under California's primary election rules, the two top vote-getters, regard- less of party, advance to the November general election. Newsom will face Republican John Cox, and Thurmond will square off against Tuck in the November runoff. "Educators are excited that a champion of our public schools is on the path now to become our nex t governor," says Heins of Newsom's strong showing. "Like educators, he believes that California must invest more in our schools because they 're the key to oppor tunity and a good life for all students." Heins adds that Newsom shares educators' values and believes in transparency and accountability at all California schools. "Newsom has seen the fraud and waste in privately run charter schools, and will hold all schools to the same standards. He knows that , with investment and ongoing innovations, our public schools will continue to be community centers instead of the profit centers that some billionaires want to continue to exploit. John Cox shares President Trump and Betsy DeVos' divisive and destructive agenda for our schools and com- munities. The choice in November 's general election has never been so stark and compelling." On to November Voters Support Public Schools by Backing Newsom for Governor, Thurmond for State Superintendent I N C A L I F O R N I A ' S J U N E 5 primary election, voters sided with students and public education by voting for teacher-supported Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for gov- ernor and East Bay Assembly Member Tony urmond for state superintendent of public instruction. Their success came despite corporate billionaires pouring in an unprecedented $30.8 million for their oppo- nents — candidates committed to pushing their agenda to privatize public schools, divert taxpayer dollars from neighborhood public scho ol s to privat ely r un char t er schools, and strip educators of their rights. "Newsom's clear victory shows that Cali- fornia's democratic process is not for sale," says CTA President Eric Heins. "Voters rejected the school privatization agenda of the billionaires supporting Antonio Villaraigosa and showed their support of providing a free public education to all students regardless of their ZIP code. And by supporting urmond for the November runoff, voters agreed that he is the one who will make our students and schools a top priority and continue to fight for the rights and future of all educators." Gavin Newsom thanks his supporters on primary election night. " The choice in November's general election has never been so stark and compelling." —CTA President Eric Heins 33 J U N E / J U L Y 2 018 Campaign 2018 E L E C T I O N W R A P