This past Saturday (May 3), voters across Texas sent a powerful message: public schools should be focused on education, not pushing privatization or political interference. In a major victory for pro-public education advocates, community-minded candidates triumphed over far-right challengers and billionaire-backed charter school interests in multiple school board races, despite an influx of outside money aiming to reshape Texas public education.
Northside & San Antonio ISDs: Win for Public Education Over Charter Interests
In San Antonio’s Northside ISD, two AFT-endorsed challengers unseated incumbents backed by powerful interests. Sonia L. Jasso defeated Homer Guevara Jr. in District 2, and Laura L. Zapata unseated Corinne Saldana in District 5. Incumbents Carol Harle (District 6) and Karen Freeman (District 7) barely held onto their seats.
Over in San Antonio ISD, voters decisively rejected an incumbent and replaced them with community-backed candidate Jacob Aaron Ramos in District 3.
But these victories didn’t come easily. They were achieved against a backdrop of massive spending from pro-charter school PACs bankrolled by billionaires like Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix. Hastings has been an outspoken advocate for charter expansion and a major donor to political action committees that work to elect pro-privatization candidates across the country. Since 2020, Hastings has poured $3.5 million into Texas races, including major contributions to PACs like Families for Education and Opportunity and Charter Schools Now, both of which actively supported candidates in this election cycle.
These PACs, led by figures like Diana Lambrecht of Futuro San Antonio — a pro-charter advocacy group — worked to unseat public school supporters and elect candidates willing to champion school privatization policies. San Antonio public school supporters should be wary about working with these shadowy groups, who are attempting to co-opt influence among policymakers. But despite their deep pockets, Texas voters chose leaders committed to public education, not outside interference.
El Paso & Socorro ISDs: Holding the Line Against Charter Influence
In El Paso ISD, three incumbents (Hanany, Loveridge, and Sutton) held their seats, while newcomer Robert Osterland unseated incumbent Israel Irrobali in District 5.
Meanwhile, in Socorro ISD, AFT-endorsed candidates Paul Guerra and Charles Smith won their races, solidifying a pro-public educator school board.
These victories came despite efforts by Hastings-backed PACs to funnel money into local elections and flip seats toward privatization-friendly candidates. Hastings has a long history of backing charter networks like KIPP and Rocketship Education, the latter of which abruptly closed its second Fort Worth campus in December 2024, leaving families scrambling mid-year.
Hastings’ ties to groups like the Charter School Growth Fund and The City Fund show a clear intent: to erode public school governance in favor of unaccountable, privately managed charters.
North Texas: A Blow to Patriot Mobile and Moms for Liberty
While pro-public education advocates celebrated victories in San Antonio and El Paso, North Texas sent an equally powerful message. Candidates backed by Patriot Mobile Action, a Christian nationalist PAC, and Moms for Liberty suffered major losses in traditionally conservative districts. In Keller, Mansfield, and Grapevine-Colleyville ISDs, voters rejected far-right incumbents who had embraced policies aimed at restricting curriculum and censoring books. Notably, all three Patriot Mobile-backed trustees in Mansfield ISD were defeated.
In Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, incumbent Tammy Nakamura, known for her support of stringent book policies and restrictions on curriculum, was unseated despite significant financial backing from conservative PACs. Elsewhere in the state, Moms for Liberty lost races in Liberty Hill, Humble, and Katy ISDs, reflecting a community rejection of their divisive educational agenda.
These losses mark a clear rejection of manufactured culture wars, book bans, and political interference in public education. Voters saw through the smokescreen and prioritized inclusive, community-driven school governance.
Key Takeaway: Voters Rejected Privatization & Outside Influence
The May 3 elections showed that even with deep pockets, outside forces cannot simply buy up local school boards in Texas, in the same way they have bought so many legislative seats. Voters saw through the veneer of “school choice” rhetoric, recognizing it for what it is: a backdoor to privatization and the erosion of local control. Now more than ever, we need school boards that serve students, not political interests.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. While Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dustin Burrows continue to champion vouchers and corporate charters under the guise of “school choice,” Texas communities are pushing back. This past election was proof: Texans want their public schools funded, protected, and free from moneyed influence — not controlled by out-of-state billionaires and corporate charter advocates.