A new watchdog report reveals that teachers’ unions and their state and local affiliates have funneled more than $1 billion into progressive political causes, advocacy groups, PACs, and campaigns over the past decade. The findings, detailed by Defending Education, indicate that national union spending alone reached approximately $669 million since 2015, with state and local affiliate activity pushing total political expenditures above $1 billion.
The report specifically tracks contributions from the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT), alongside their affiliated groups across states and districts. Defending Education analyzed federal filings, campaign finance records, and union spending documents to document that significant portions of dues and fees were directed toward left-wing political infrastructure—including climate activism initiatives, gender ideology campaigns, abortion-related advocacy, anti-school-choice ballot efforts, and Democratic Party entities.
Key figures highlighted in the report include over $85 million allocated to federal, state, and local Democratic Party organizations; more than $60 million to the State Engagement Fund since 2016; and substantial contributions to groups like For Our Future Action Fund and Senate Majority PAC. The watchdog also identified direct funding for school-choice opposition campaigns in states such as Maine, Nebraska, Kentucky, and Colorado, alongside support for entities linked to Arabella’s network.
State and local affiliates further amplified the scale of activity, with selected unions spending $336 million through their own PACs and political operations. Examples include California Teachers Association PACs contributing over $106 million and New York State United Teachers VOTE-COPE donating more than $20 million to anti-school-choice initiatives and gubernatorial races.
Ryan Walters, CEO of Teacher Freedom Alliance, has long argued that teachers’ unions have evolved beyond traditional workplace advocacy into powerful political engines. Defending Education’s analysis underscores that many educators—without explicit awareness—have become unwitting contributors to campaigns championing progressive policies they may not have endorsed. As the totals surpass $1 billion, the report raises a critical question: how many classroom teachers signed up to fund national left-wing politics?