Badass Teachers Association: BAT Eye on the Elections!

Badass Teachers Association: BAT Eye on the Elections!

BAT Eye on the Elections!

Well, it's finally here, election day 2018. We have seen an unrivaled amount of educators running for office across the nation in response to the #RedforEd wave.

BATs have a few of our own long-time members that have sacrificed their own lives to put their name on the ballot.

In Tennessee we have Larry Proffitt. A long time BAT member, former admin and Tennessee power-house, Larry is running for  Tennessee House District 66. He was officially endorsed by NPE Action and this is his second attempt as a candidate.

Janet Garrett, a long-time Ohio BAT and a veteran teacher of 35 years is running for Congress in the 4th district.

Amy Perruso, from the great state of Hawaii, has her sights set on the statehouse.

From Michigan, we have Dayna Polehanki, 2018 Teacher of the Year that is running for State Senate in Michigan's 7th district.

We asked our BAT State Admins (A quick thank you to all of the work that they do!) what races they will be following closely this year. Here are some of their replies:

Utah’s
“Question 1”... we want it...our only education funding through a gas tax

Florida

Governor Gillum vs. DeSantis
Senate Nelson vs. Scott
Amendments especially 4 ~ restoring voting rights:
If Amendment 4 is approved by more than 60 percent of voters on Tuesday, most felons will automatically be able to register to vote after completing all terms of their sentences. An estimated 1.2 million people who currently can't vote would be affected by the change. Those who committed murder or sex crimes are not eligible.

Senator Annette Taddeo

Donna Shalala for Congress

Illinois
Governor .... Rauner (funder of Janus) vs Pritzker.
Sara Dady, (US Rep.) Jake Castanza, Angie Bodine (IL State Rep)

West Virginia
The West Virginia teachers' strike was a staring contest with the West Virginia State Senate. 34 members, 22 Republicans led by State Senator Mitch Carmichael. Half the members (17) are up for election; ten seats either have Republican incumbents or were held by Republicans who lost their primaries. If the Dems don't pick up seven seats, Carmichael will revisit the issues from the strike and will pretend he now has a mandate of some kind.

There's Joe Manchin's race against WV Attorney General and former drug company lobbyist Patrick Morrisey (who treated to put teachers in jail during our strike). Manchin may not be every liberal's dream Senator, but he's an easy pick in that race.

We are also closely watching State Senator Richard Ojeda's bid for the vacant 03 District Congressional seat.


Michigan
In Michigan, the whole ticket is exciting. But the key ones are Gretchen Whitmer for Gov., - Dana Nessel for Atty Gen. - Haley Stevens & Ellisa Slotkin for US Congress. Dayna Polehanki for State Senate (She's a Teacher of the Year and a BAT). Plus Sam Bagenstos & Megan Cavanagh the Dems for Mich Supreme Ct. If they both win the court flips from Republican to Democrat. Yes on Proposal 2 will eliminate gerrymandering so that's huge too. The boots on the ground for the Dems have been more than I've ever seen here in Michigan.

Georgia
The Governor's race!!

Wisconsin 
The Govenor's race and Tammy Baldwin

Ohio
All of our 23 endorsed candidates in OH and Senator Sherrod Brown's re-election, hopefully handily.


Indiana
J.D. Ford vs Mike Delph for State Senator for Indiana District 29. J.D. has a master's degree in education from Purdue University and has been working as a substitute teacher while campaigning. He's liberal, 36 and If he wins, he'll be the state's first openly gay lawmaker.


Pennsylvania
PA Governor Race-Tom Wolf (D) vs Scott Wagner (R)
PA Senate Race-Bob Casey (D) vs Lou Barletta (R)

Texas
Beto!!!

California
Tony Thurmond
Duncan Hunter (R), Mimi Waters (R), Dana Rohrbacher (R).

Arizona
Governor race
Prop 305

New York
The State Senate - we need to flip it!

North Dakota
Senator Heidi Heitkamp

Montana
Senatorial... Incumbent Jon Tester (D) vs. Matt Rosendale.


New Jersey
Andy Kim for Congress District 3

 As I sat here typing this out, I received a personal call from our brother, Larry Proffitt. Much love to you and you will be in our hearts!!!  ~Melissa Tomlinson, Assistant Executive Director

Badass Teachers Association: BAT Eye on the Elections!