Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
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Campaigns for the Nov. 7 school board elections generated record amounts of spending — especially in the Twin Cities metro area — as political action committees poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into contests often waged over cultural and social issues such as book banning and restricting classroom discussions on race or LGBTQ issues.
Among the biggest spenders in three of the five largest suburban districts were Education Minnesota (the statewide teachers union) and the Minnesota Parents Alliance (MPA) — organizations that were on opposite sides of those controversial issues. In Anoka-Hennepin, an MPA affiliate raised over $44,000, and Education Minnesota's PAC spent almost $40,000 on a digital ad campaign.
As of just before the Nov. 7 election, campaign finance records showed that candidates and PACs in the state's five largest suburban districts had spent more than $336,000 — 50% more than at the same time in 2021.
And what were the results? Fortunately — in the best interest of students, families and educators — voters rejected the majority of the far-right candidates in favor of those who value things like equity initiatives and LGBTQ inclusion.
Of the 44 candidates backed by MPA, the organization's website lists 11 winners. According to the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), 124 seats were up for election across the state. About half of the candidates in those races were re-elected, and the other half were newcomers. The MPA claims 11 of its endorsed candidates won, but at least two have said they weren't contacted and didn't want the endorsement.
The MPA characterized the wins in Anoka-Hennepin and Hastings as significant because the group had targeted those two districts. The group also focused on Mounds View, but its endorsed candidates lost in that race.
