Largest US teachers union spent nearly $7.8M fighting ballot measures in three states, watchdog report says

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 a report by the education watchdog Defending Education (DE).

DE's report cited a guidance document from the National Education Association (NEA) stating that unions may spend unlimited amounts from their general treasuries on ballot measures in any state, subject to state affiliate agreements and specific state laws. The document also called for providing 'strategic and financial assistance' to defeat unfriendly ballot measures, according to the report.

DE senior director of communications Erika Sanzi, a former teacher and NEA member, told Fox News Digital that the union has shifted towards politics over the years. Instead of talking about education, she said, the union has become focused on issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, climate change and gender ideology. 'I 100% believe that the union has done a lot of damage and continues to do a lot damage,' Sanzi said.

According to the report's findings, on 30 September 2026 the Arizona Education Association sent $75,000 to Will of The People PAC, a group that 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, DE found. The group opposed two ballot measures, one aimed at restoring parents' rights in public schools. The other measure, 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, a proposal to repeal the state's top-four ranked-choice voting system.

The report also 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 said the PAC appears to be run and operated by the president of an NEA local affiliate, the Kyrene Education Association. Fox News Digital was unable to independently confirm whether the PAC and the Kyrene Education Association share leadership.

The report also cited an NEA 'playbook' laying out the union's objections to payroll deduction bans. The playbook describes proactively moving members to AutoPay as 'the only way to neutralize this threat'. Sanzi said members could 'get stuck' in a subscription model where payments are continuous and often forgotten about. She added that parents often conflate supporting their children's teachers with supporting union leadership, while the union and rank-and-file teachers are two very different entities.

The NEA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.