The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) funneled more than $40 million into the state’s gubernatorial race supporting the union’s president for their candidate to finish nearly dead-last.
Sean Spiller, the president of the NJEA, placed fifth in the state’s Democratic primary election, garnering only 10% of the June 10 vote despite the union spending the most on a single candidate of any special interest group in the state’s history, according to Politico.
The union president’s campaign was funded through the Working New Jersey super PAC, which is directly supported by NJEA, Politico reported. Prior to the union’s support, however, het failed to raise enough funds to even qualify for the Democratic debates.
“I am extremely proud of the efforts and support of so many, that allowed us to finish stronger than our state’s longest serving Senate President and about on par with our sitting US Congressman,” Sean Spiller told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “While we were not supported by the political bosses or corporate infrastructure, we showed that we could still compete – and in fact complete very well, like in South Jersey. So, while this wasn’t the time, it was only the beginning.”
State Democrats are now speaking out against the union’s spending following the loss.
Democratic state Sen. Vin Gopal, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said the choice was “concerning” and that local teachers are “pretty frustrated” about the use of money, according to Politico.
“I think the strength of the NJEA will be questioned after these election results,” Gopal told the outlet. “How does it not?”
A former NJEA official who spoke to Politico on condition of anonymity echoed the sentiment, saying the costly endorsement “didn’t seem like a good investment.”
NJEA is New Jersey’s largest and most powerful teachers’ union, representing more than 200,000 members across the state.
NJEA did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
Teachers unions have become big funders of Democratic campaigns, with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) aiding in electing leftist major Brandon Johnson in 2023. Several education associations have also been attempting to roadblock President Donald Trump’s education agenda.
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