The results of the 2024 election could have massive implications for K-12 schools.
Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris provides momentum to Trump’s calls to slash federal K-12 spending, enact a federal school choice program, and abolish the U.S. Department of Education. But the presidential race wasn’t the only one on the ballot with the potential to affect schools. Voters also selected governors, state superintendents, and state board of education members.
In 10 states, voters decided on education-related ballot measures that proposed to expand or repeal school choice, change testing requirements for graduating seniors, shore up new funding for K-12 schools, or eliminate property taxes—a major funding source for schools.
This election guide highlights results from key races and ballot questions.
Presidential Election
Trump and Harris presented very different views on the future of K-12 schools. Here’s how they compared.
State Races to Watch
Voters across the country cast ballots in races for governor, state superintendent, and state boards of education. Here’s a breakdown.
Click on a topic below to explore races by category.
State Superintendent
Voters in Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Washington state chose state superintendents in November.
As the top education executive in state government, state superintendents are tasked with leading state education departments, which develop policies and programs for local schools, manage and distribute federal and state funding, collect data from school districts, help local schools navigate emergencies like natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic, and often deal with state legislatures in education policymaking.
Twelve states elect superintendents. State boards of education, governors, or a combination of the two appoint the other 38 superintendents.
North Carolina
Incumbent Catherine Truitt, a former teacher, lost her state’s Republican primary to Michele Morrow, a nurse and home-school advocate who has expressed support for the public execution of prominent Democrats. Morrow lost to Mo Green, a Democrat and former school superintendent. Green attracted 51 percent of the vote to Morrow’s 49 percent.
North Dakota
The nation’s longest-serving state superintendent, Kirsten Baesler, defeated Jason Heitkamp, a truck driver and former Republican state senator, earning 57 percent of the vote to Heitkamp’s 42 percent. The North Dakota election is nonpartisan, but both Baesler and Heitkamp lean conservative.
In March, Baesler lost the North Dakota Republican Party’s endorsement to Jim Bartlett, a home-schooling advocate who wants schools to teach the Christian moral code based on the Ten Commandments. Bartlett ultimately failed to advance to the general election.
See Also: The Surprising Contenders for State Superintendent Offices This Year
Governor
Voters in Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia had gubernatorial elections.
Governors have the ability to enact or veto laws that could alter school funding formulas, raise teacher pay, restrict classroom discussions on divisive topics, or implement school choice. Governors in Delaware, Indiana, New Hampshire, and Vermont have the power to appoint a state superintendent of education.
Among the gubernatorial candidates were former teachers, school board members, and a former state superintendent.
While education wasn’t the primary focus for most candidates, Republicans in key races generally called for expansions of school choice while Democrats focused more often on teacher pay and school funding. Debates on how schools approach issues like race, gender identity, and sexuality have abated somewhat in recent years, but some candidates continue to call for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation from classrooms.
Indiana
A former state superintendent and Democrat, Jennifer McCormick, lost to U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., in the race for governor. Both candidates made public schools a top issue in their campaigns, but their policies couldn’t have been more different. Braun, who claimed 54 percent of the vote to McCormick’s 41 percent, will appoint a state superintendent of public instruction.
North Carolina
The governor’s race in North Carolina, where statewide elections are typically close, was one of the most contentious this year. Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson lost to Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat. Stein claimed 55 percent of the vote to Robinson’s 40 percent.
State Boards of Education
Candidates competed for 27 elected state board of education seats across six states in November.
Governors in 24 states appoint all members of the board of education, according to the Education Commission of the States. The remaining state boards are either partially appointed by the governor, appointed by the state legislature, or elected.
This year, Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and Utah held elections for state boards of education. In Utah, eight of 15 board seats were up for election. Kansas had five of 10 seats up for election. Alabama and Colorado both had four of nine seats up for election, while four of Nebraska’s eight seats were on the ballot. Michigan had two of its eight seats up for election.
Board of education powers vary from state to state. Some states, like Alabama, charge board members with “general supervision of the public schools,” while others, like Colorado, have more specific duties, such as ensuring graduation requirements align with workforce and postsecondary education readiness. In all states with seats up for election this year, the board ultimately appoints the state’s superintendent of schools.
Ballot Issues
There were 13 ballot measures related to K-12 education across 10 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Here’s a summary of each.
- California, Proposition 2 (Passed ✔️): Californians approved the use of state funds for the construction and modernization of schools and other public education facilities, with 57 percent voting in favor (the measure required 55 percent support to pass). The measure provides $10 billion to support the construction or renovation of schools and community colleges, according to measure’s language.
- Colorado, Proposition KK (Passed ✔️): The legislative referendum imposes a 6.5 percent tax on gun and ammunition dealers to support education programs and mental and behavioral health programs for children and veterans. It passed with 54 percent of the vote.
- Colorado, Initiative 138 (Rejected ❌): The measure would have amended the state’s constitution to establish “the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade,” and declare that “school choice” includes neighborhood, charter, and private schools as well as open-enrollment options and other future “innovations in education,” according to The measure failed with 48 percent of the vote; it needed 55 percent to pass.
- Florida, Amendment 1 (Rejected ❌): The constitutional amendment would have required Florida school board candidates to list their political party affiliation starting in 2026. The measure failed with 55 percent of the vote; it needed 60 percent to pass.
- Kentucky, Amendment 2 (Rejected ❌): Voters rejected an amendment to the state’s constitution so that “the General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools,” including private schools, according to . The measure failed with 35 percent of the vote.
- Massachusetts, Question 2 (Passed ✔️): The measure asked voters in Massachusetts to repeal a requirement that high school students achieve a certain score on the state’s standardized test, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, to receive their diploma. Currently, students must earn a passing score on the 10th grade MCAS tests in English/language arts and math to graduate from high school. The measure passed with 59 percent of the vote.
- Missouri, Amendment 5 (Rejected ❌): The measure would have approved a gambling boat license to operate on a portion of the Osage River in Missouri, directing the state revenue from the license to fund early-childhood literacy programs in elementary schools, The measure failed with 48 percent of the vote.
- Nebraska, Referendum 435 (Passed ✔️): Nebraska voters decided to repeal a 2024 law that established an “opportunity scholarship” program, providing around $10 million in public funds to help parents offset the cost of private schools. Fifty-seven percent of voters supported the repeal.
- New Mexico, Bond Question 2 (Passed ✔️): Voters authorized up to $230.3 million in borrowing to fund public colleges and universities, special schools, and tribal schools. The measure passed with 67 percent support.
- New Mexico, Bond Question 3 (Passed ✔️): Voters authorized up to $19.3 million to fund public, tribal, public school, and academic libraries. The measure passed with 66 percent support.
- North Dakota, Initiated Measure 4 (Rejected ❌): The ballot measure would have eliminated the state’s existing property tax system. That would have either forced school districts and local governments to cut spending or required the state to come up with an alternative source for over $1 billion in revenue. The measure failed with 63 percent of voters opposed.
- Utah, Amendment A (Measure voided): Voters were to decide whether to change the state’s constitution to allow income tax revenue to be used for “all state needs” rather than reserved for supporting children and individuals with disabilities and public K-12 and higher education, as the constitution currently authorizes. A judge on Oct. 9 because the text was not published in newspapers 60 days before the election, as required by the state constitution. The ruling came in response to . The measure still appeared on ballots, but votes weren’t counted.
- Utah, Amendment B (Passed ✔️): Voters decided to raise the annual limit on the amount of money distributed from the state to schools through its “State School Fund” from 4 percent to 5 percent. The measure passed with 71 percent support.