Spending on Anoka-Hennepin school board races spikes

Six candidates are facing off over three seats this fall on the Anoka-Hennepin school board, and the money flooding into the races to oversee the state’s largest school district has far outpaced normal spending for a down-ballot election. 

Donations from unions, individuals and national political groups have already reached nearly $500,000.

With more than 36,000 students, Anoka-Hennepin is larger than the urban districts in St. Paul and Minneapolis and carries an outsized influence in Minnesota. 

The district’s been at the center of growing political divisions seen in the state and nationally in the years during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Its politically divided board has clashed over issues such as culturally responsive teaching and social emotional learning. 

While the Minnesota School Boards Association doesn’t track campaign spending, executive director Kirk Schneidawind said he’s seen campaign money flooding into what are supposed to be nonpartisan school board races.

This year, 21 school districts statewide are holding regular elections. Twelve are planning special elections to replace board members who vacated their seats before the end of their terms. 

“I think it's become more important for the community citizens of each community in Minnesota to pay attention to who is running, who will be leading their school district as School Board members,” Schneidawind said 

Conservative and progressive slates

Some political and labor groups are focusing much of their spending and attention on the Anoka-Hennepin school board race. An MPR News review of campaign financial reports reveals more than $463,000 has so far been poured into the race by national and local groups alike.

This year, half of Anoka Hennepin’s board seats are on the ballot, and three of the candidates have the backing of the local and state teachers’ union. The other three candidates have endorsements from the conservative Minnesota Parents Alliance. 

In district three, incumbent Kacy Deschene is facing off with Lorraine Coan, who has the endorsement of the conservative Minnesota Parents Alliance. Deschene is aligned with the School Board Integrity Project, which counts Education Minnesota and other unions as partners.

In district four, incumbent Matt Audette, who’s got the backing of the conservative Minnesota Parents’ Alliance, is being challenged by Abbey Payeur, who — like Deschene — has taken the School Board Integrity Project’s candidate pledge. 

In district six, incumbent Jeff Simon, who has the endorsement of the local and state teacher union, is trying to hold his seat while the Minnesota Parents’ Alliance’s Tiffany Strabala hopes to take his place. 

Spending on the conservative slate of candidates has ballooned to more than $360,000. The money is coming from individual donors, the Minnesota Parents’ Alliance and associated Excellence Minnesota, GOP groups and the Virgina-based 1776 Project, a conservative PAC dedicated to “reforming school boards across America” that registered in MN just this year. 

Spending on the progressive slate of candidates is close to $100,000. Individual donors, the School Board Integrity Project, the teachers union and other unions such as the sheet metal workers have donated money to those campaigns.