Teachers Unions Dropped $80M in 2014 Elections—and Have Little to Show for It

Spent big, lost big

Teachers unions spent big on the midterm elections and lost big—dropping as much as $80 million on mostly Democratic candidates.

The National Educational Association and the American Federation of Teachers spent their members' dues to support labor-friendly candidates in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina, only to see Republicans win handily. Some critics say not only did they get little bang for their bucks, they may have further alienated members who don't share the organizations' politics.