Teachers union spent nearly $8M to crush school choice, biological sports measures, report finds

The country's largest teachers union and its affiliates poured nearly $7.8 million into ballot fights across three states in 2026, as internal documents outlined strategies to target voucher programs and other conservative initiatives, according to Defending Education (DE).

In a recent report, the education watchdog uncovered a guidance document from the National Education Association (NEA) which stated that unions may spend unlimited amounts from their general treasuries on ballot measures in any state, subject to any state affiliate agreements to address specific state laws. Additionally, DE found that the NEA calls for providing strategic and financial assistance to defeat unfriendly ballot measures.

Ballot Fight Spending

The financial findings in DE's report show the union's extensive spending on political fights across the country. On Sept. 30, 2026, the Arizona Education Association sent $75,000 to Will of The People PAC, which opposed Proposition 318. The proposition was approved and will require all schools and athletic associations to restrict access to private spaces and sports participation based on biological sex.

In Washington state, the NEA affiliate Washington Education Association contributed more than $391,000 to No Hate in WA State, which opposed two ballot measures. One measure aimed at restoring parents' rights in public schools, while the other, which was approved, will require sex verification for participation in women's sports.

In Alaska, the NEA Advocacy Fund contributed $250,000 to the group No on 2, which opposed Alaska's Ballot Measure No. 2. That measure sought to repeal the state's top-four ranked-choice voting system.

Anti-School Choice Campaign

Beyond these contributions, DE found that in the first two quarters of 2026, the Protect Education, Accountability Now PAC received $7,075,438.33 from the Arizona Education Association and the NEA for an anti-school choice campaign. DE noted that the PAC appears to be run and operated by the president of an NEA local affiliate – Kyrene Education Association.

The NEA has made its opposition to voucher programs clear, arguing that they take away resources from public schools and have racist origins. A Feb. 13, 2026, post on NEA Today claimed that voucher expansion is re-segregating schools by race and income and reflects a policy rooted in resistance to school integration.

Dues Revenue Preservation

DE's report also examines the NEA's efforts to preserve dues revenue as states restrict payroll deductions. In 2025, the NEA released a document titled AutoPay Playbook, which was obtained by DE. The playbook lays out the union's objections to payroll deduction bans, which the union argued were intended to force affiliates into all-consuming conversion campaigns that prevent our union from building the power we need to protect public education.

The NEA's playbook describes proactively moving members to AutoPay as the only way to neutralize this threat and protect our power in the face of payroll deduction bans. The union warns that fast-moving state legislation can leave affiliates with near-impossible timelines to make the switch.

Sanzi told Fox News Digital that the AutoPay program relies on recurring electronic funds transfers and could leave members get stuck in a subscription model. She noted that parents often conflate supporting their children's teachers with supporting union leadership, saying the union and the rank and file teachers are two very different entities.