Federal

EdWeek's 2018 Election Watch

On election night, Education Week provided up-to-the-minute coverage of pivotal races. See how teacher candidates and education issues fared at the polls.

EdWeek's Election Watch

Complete coverage of the 2018 midterm elections

The stakes were high in this year’s midterm elections for K-12 policy, with 36 governorships up for grabs, along with more than three-quarters of state legislative seats, and pivotal votes for control of the U.S. Congress.

And among the candidates running for office were teachers—at least 177 had filed to run for state legislative seats, according to an Education Week analysis.

Here highlights from around the country on the what happened in key races on Election Day, along with background articles and Commentaries on the big education issues that fueled this year’s elections.

Latest Headlines

Money the Top Education Theme in State Midterm Elections

Debates over teacher pay and more money for schools tested voters’ appetite for tax hikes to raise that money. Now comes the reckoning for newly elected officials.

Dozens of Teachers Were Elected to State Office. Many More Fell Short

Sand Springs, Okla.

Those who hoped for a “teacher wave” are likely to be disappointed by the election results, but many educators say the losses only strengthen their resolve to fight for better pay and school funding.

In Historic Win, Nationally Recognized Teacher Jahana Hayes Elected to U.S. House

The 2016 National Teacher of the Year will represent Connecticut’s 5th district, becoming the first African-American woman from the state to serve in Congress.

Election Roundup: Winners, Losers, and the Education Connection

K-12 education was a factor in scores of high-profile races this midterm election, from contests for governors and U.S. Senate to state schools superintendents. Voters also faced education-related ballot measures touching on issues including funding, school choice, infrastructure, and governance. Here are some highlights, with results to be updated.

See the results >

Election Must-Reads

More highlights from Education Week’s 2018 election night coverage:

Commentaries:

Catch up on EdWeek’s Election Day Watch party!

Teacher candidates made waves on election night, and Education Week’s Madeline Will and Daarel Burnette II were on the ground in Oklahoma and Arizona live-tweeting the action. Catch up on their commentary and highlights from the races that matter to educators by following the hashtag #EdWeekWatchParty.

Teachers Who Ran for Office

During 2018’s many statewide teacher strikes and protests, teachers promised to carry their concerns over pay and school funding straight to the polls. At least 177 teachers ran for their state legislatures in more than half the country, according to an Education Week analysis. But most were not successful: Just 43 current teachers were elected on Nov. 6. We compiled a searchable database of all teachers who ran for state office, including their party affiliations, school districts, subjects taught, and other relevant information. Check it out.

See teacher candidates >

Live Event

2020 Vision: Education Policy and Politics Beyond the Midterms

At this live event, Education Week and The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development join forces for a look at the 2018 midterm elections and what education issues and controversies are likely to resonate in the fast-approaching 2020 election year, with control of both the White House and Congress in the balance.

Nov. 28, 2018 | George Washington University's Jack Morton Auditorium, Washington, D.C.