Pro-Public Education Majorities Elected to the State House, Senate, and Executive Council
This Tuesday we had a huge shift in political power not only across the country, but right here in New Hampshire. Most everyone has heard that the US House and Senate flipped control, but so did our New Hampshire House, Senate, and Executive Council. Voters sent a clear message to Concord that Granite Staters want a new direction that puts working families and students first by electing pro-public education candidates and majorities up and down the ballot.
These election results are a repudiation of years of baseless attacks on public schools, labor unions, and educators like you. New Hampshire voters have made clear that public education matters. Now it is time for our elected leaders to turn that commitment into action.
The focus of the incoming 2027-28 Legislature must be about how the state can support students, educators, and families to ensure all children have the support and opportunities they need to succeed. Included in the new legislators are 19 retired NEA-NH members in the House; we are so excited for them to bring our voices and our students' stories with them to Concord as we work to enact a proactive pro-public education agenda at the state level.
Question 2 Results Mixed
While we're celebrating the wins for pro-public education candidates and majorities, we recognize the concern caused by the adoption of school funding caps in communities across the state. From mailings to conversations with our neighbors and loved ones to digital media, NEA-NH and our members strongly led campaigns statewide against Question 2, which made the difference in many districts rejecting these misleading caps. Unfortunately, these caps still passed in more than 100 school districts, cooperative school districts, and school administrative units statewide.
Tuesday's results on Question 2 reflect the very real frustration that Granite Staters, including educators, feel about their property taxes. However, that frustration should not be mistaken for support for a policy that we know threatens students' educational opportunities. The State of New Hampshire's longstanding failure to adequately fund our public schools—despite multiple court rulings—has created an inequitable system that forces neighbors to choose between supporting strong public schools and keeping their own households financially secure. That is an impossible choice no Granite Stater should be forced to make.
The fundamental truth remains unchanged: the State contributes just 17 cents of every dollar spent on public education in New Hampshire, the lowest state contribution in the country. Until the State meets its responsibility to fund public education fairly and adequately, property taxpayers and students will continue to suffer the consequences.
The next phase of the school funding cap implementation is sure to be as confusing as the question itself, but your union's commitment to New Hampshire's students and public schools will not waver. We are keeping a close eye on what comes next and ready to work with locals on what their next step should be if their district did vote to adopt one of these caps.
Questions?
If you have questions on any of these bills or ones not mentioned here, please feel free to contact Brian Hawkins, NEA-NH Director of Government Relations at [email protected].
