Powerful teacher’s union endorses Swalwell for governor

The California Teachers Association (CTA) endorsed Rep. Eric Swalwell in the race for governor.

CTA represents over 310,000 teachers across the state and maintains a powerful presence within California politics, often throwing its weight behind legislation and endorsing candidates in important races. The union voted to endorse Swalwell based on his previous support for public education and striking teachers, CTA’s president said.

“During debate, delegates referenced Swalwell’s commitment to working people, including most recently joining striking educators on the line in Dublin and San Francisco,” CTA president David Goldberg said in a statement. “Californians deserve a governor who will walk the line alongside union educators when they are on strike for the schools our students and communities deserve.

“As a union of 310,000 educators, we have the power to ensure that our students and communities have a Governor who is committed to both protecting and fully funding public education, and other essential pillars in our society.”

CTA has a State Council of Education, with close to 800 elected delegates from over 1,100 chapters across the state. The Council came together last weekend to vote to endorse Swalwell in the crowded gubernatorial race.

“Teachers aren't just employees. They're the backbone of our community,” Swalwell said in a statement. “They're the co-authors of our children’s lives. I couldn’t be more honored to have earned the endorsement of the 310,000 members of the California Teachers Association.”

A March Emerson College poll showed Swalwell in the lead, with 17% of respondents saying they would vote for the state representative. Other recently released polls, however, have shown Swalwell among the top three, either trailing behind or going head-to-head with Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.

The CTA endorsement comes on the heels of critical union endorsements for Swalwell, including SEIU, one of the largest and most powerful unions in the state, as well as the California Federation of Labor Unions and more. Swalwell has also secured support from many of his colleagues in Congress, including Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).

“We can no longer live in a society where a CEO’s time is worth fifty thousand dollars an hour, but the person who taught that CEO how to read is worth barely enough to survive,” Swalwell said. “As the product of public schools, I know we don't just owe our teachers a raise — we owe them everything. And as Governor, I will always fight for our teachers, the way my teachers always fought for me.”

Swalwell has been the target of multiple political investigations, including a recent push by FBI Director Kash Patel to release case files from a years-old investigation into a suspected Chinese spy, whom Swalwell had ties to. Swalwell was not accused of any wrongdoing and a two-year probe by the House Ethics Committee did not take any action against the representative. 

Swalwell has represented the 14th (formerly 15th) district since 2013 and led the second impeachment against President Donald Trump. In a statement, Swalwell called Patel’s efforts an example of “the outrageous ends the White House will go to target political opponents.”