Educators celebrate re-election of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards

WASHINGTON -  National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García released the following statement celebrating Governor John Bel Edwards’ re-election today, after making Louisiana’s students and public schools central to his campaign.

“Tonight, educators are celebrating Governor John Bel Edwards’ re-election in Louisiana. His victory, on the heels of the major victories in Kentucky and Virginia, again demonstrates the power of educators and how the energy from #RedForEd movement continues reshaping the political landscape to deliver wins for students and public schools.

“The teachers and education support professionals of the Bayou State appreciated how Gov. Edwards has been a true partner, working with educators to put students first and strengthen Louisiana’s public schools. They saw Gov. Edwards making the hard choices, which pulled the state out of debt while investing in public schools. His efforts helped expand opportunity for Louisiana’s students, and ensure school districts can attract and retain the quality educators that students deserve by giving educators the first recurring pay raises in over a decade.

“That is why educators invested their shoe leather marching and going door to door. They spent their nights and weekends on the phone, calling voters. And educators have used their voice, which they found through #RedforEd movement, to help carry John Bel Edwards over the finish line.

“Nationally, educators are empowered and engaged like never before, and they made their presence felt in election after election. And, as we look towards the 2020 election, our members will continue building on the momentum to elect champions for our public schools to offices up and down the ballot.”

Specifically, members of the Louisiana Association of Education and National Education Association:

• Saw an exceptional number of educators volunteering on the campaign and taking leadership roles during this election;
• Organized grassroots events like phone and text banks, parades, tailgates, community walks, neighborhood canvasses, and Souls to the Polls efforts, resulting in more than 20,0000 GOTV voter contacts;
• Educated fellow LAE/NEA members about the issues facing public education in Louisiana so they could effectively speak to their communities and ran a massive, targeted member-to-member digital program;
• Hosted town halls and educator roundtables throughout the state to discuss issues facing public education with voters.