A constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would turn Florida’s school board elections into partisan races is stirring controversy among Democrats and educators, some of whom view it as a power play by the US state’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.If the ballot question passes in the November general election, candidates for the school board would be required to list their political parties starting November 2026.
Making candidates stand on party tickets will infuse “dirty” politics – and big political spending – into races that should be focused on how to better educate children, say opponents of the proposition.
On the other hand, Republican lawmakers who spearheaded Amendment 1 argue that voters need to know candidates’ political affiliations to be properly informed.
“School board elections are one of the few political arenas left where our elected officials can leave their political party affiliations at the door and come together for the sake of our students,” said Florida public school teacher Grace Hayes when she joined educators in Tallahassee speaking out against partisan races last year.
“To force school board candidates to pick a partisan side in what is already such a hostile and complicated political climate is the worst thing we could do for our students, teachers and educational stakeholders,” she added.
Greater transparency
Florida House of Representatives memb …
