The landscape of school board elections has changed dramatically in recent years, with conservative groups like Moms for Liberty playing a significant role in pushing a far-right agenda in public education. These groups back candidates who support banning books, limiting LGBTQ+ rights, and restricting what teachers can teach in the classroom. While their influence may not always result in victories, their impact is clear as far-right extremists aim to shape the future of public schooling across the country.
In North Carolina, a state where public education is under threat, Wake County has become a battleground for conservatives seeking to influence school policies. Republicans are attempting to gain control of the school board in Wake County, where they have previously tried to ban books and create moral panics about school curriculum. With the state superintendent race also at stake, the future of public education in North Carolina hangs in the balance.
In South Carolina, the school board race in Berkeley County features a clash between right-wing candidates supported by Moms for Liberty and a group advocating for education over politics. The district has already seen the effects of conservative influence, with endorsed board members taking actions to ban critical race theory and challenge books deemed objectionable. Similar battles are playing out in Maryland, where candidates like Chuck Yocum are running on platforms that seek to restrict transgender rights and promote parental control over education.
Overall, the rise of far-right candidates in school board elections highlights the increasing polarization of public education politics. From North Carolina to South Carolina to Maryland, conservatives are pushing for policies that align with a Moms for Liberty-style agenda, which often involves attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and censoring teachers’ speech in the classroom. The outcome of these elections could have far-reaching implications for the future of public schooling in these states and beyond.
