# The Center Square Daily | May 6, 2026 | Teacher Unions Spent $1B on Politics

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680/the-center-square-daily-may-6-2026-teacher-unions-spent-1b-on-politics.md
Podcast: [The States](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680)
Published: 2026-05-06T21:33:45+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/americas-talking-network4
Audio file: https://afp-444292-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/8b02661e-96f3-4975-81b1-e2aa11528098/episodes/9ea59813-9d17-416d-8629-a476996fecf3/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8b02661e-96f3-4975-81b1-e2aa11528098&awEpisodeId=9ea59813-9d17-416d-8629-a476996fecf3&feed=yyj8m_Dh
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Duration seconds: 1142

## Resource

Teacher union political spending, primaries in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, and Virginia's tax incentives for data centers holds up state budget. On today's episode of The Center Square Daily, Esther Wickham looks at a new report from Defending Education that found the nation’s largest teachers unions—the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association—have directed more than $1 billion toward political activities and advocacy since 2015. The spending includes hundreds of millions at both the federal and state levels, supporting candidates, influencing local school board races, and opposing school choice efforts across multiple states. The Center Square's J.D. Davidson joins to discuss a busy election cycle is unfolding across the Midwest. In Ohio, new congressional maps and a tightening governor’s race are drawing attention as the state shows signs of becoming more competitive. In Indiana, primary results highlighted divisions within the Republican Party, with several incumbents losing after opposing redistricting efforts backed by President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, a closely watched special election in Michigan saw Democrats hold a key seat, reinforcing broader trends in voter response ahead of upcoming elections.

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