Educators in Kentucky were energized by the hostility of Governor Matt Bevin and the legislature. Several won primaries Tuesday.
High school math teacher Travis Brenda beat rising Republican star Jonathan Shell, who was majority leader of the House.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article211732649.html
“Shell was mentioned as a likely candidate for House speaker in January 2019 and a possible candidate in years to come for state agriculture commissioner and governor.
“His campaign war chest for re-election dwarfed that of Brenda — $131,243 to $16,126.
“But Brenda, who is making his first bid for public office, railed against the pension bill and all who supported it, most notably Shell and Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Brenda pledged to never vote again for Bevin, who criticized teachers, and picked up the endorsement of the Kentucky Education Association’s political action committee.”
Governor Bevin has repeatedly attacked teachers. They won’t forget.
“What Bevin fails to understand is that most Kentuckians hold public educators in high regard. In many counties, school systems are among the largest employers and sources of community pride. The people who work there are among the most-educated and most-respected people in the community.
“When he keeps calling public school educators “selfish,” “ignorant” and “unsophisticated” for challenging him, a lot of Kentuckians don’t take it well. And they vote accordingly.”
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/tom-eblen/article211734469.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article211732649.html#storylink=cpy
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Terrific. I hope this continues. Thank YOU for this encouraging information, Diane.
One of our nation’s greatest presidents was Woodrow Wilson, an academician, the only US president to have earned a PhD. I am delighted that more people with education backgrounds, are seeking public office.
Wilson as a “great” president? Not so sure of that? Didn’t he campaign on not getting into war and then turned around and got us into WW!?
I do agree though, Chas, with your last sentence.
Most (not all) historians rate Wilson as one of our greatest presidents. He bent over backwards, to keep the USA out of WW1 (notwithstanding the fact that the USA sold to all of the warring powers). When the Zimmerman telegram and the unrestricted submarine warfare came to light, that was the last straw for Wilson. He had no choice. The story is (and I believe it), is that after delivering the speech to congress, requesting a declaration of war, that he went back to the White House residence, and wept.
I believe that First Lady Edith Wilson unofficially stepped in as President for a fairly large amount of time after Wilson suffered a stroke. (There is a recent book about that, which I’ve been wanting to read.)
Not all teachers are the same. “Brenda’s campaign, for example, heavily emphasized the fact that he was a pro-life Christian and a staunch defender of gun rights,” — https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/05/the-gops-public-education-dilemma/561389/
Just because a person is a public-school teacher, does not necessarily mean that the person is a gun-grabbing liberal. (I was born in Kentucky, and educated in KY public schools). I had a teacher who taught Biblical creation in the public school. Many KY teachers are conservative, pro-life, Christians, who support the 2d amendment, and believe in the inerrancy of Holy Scripture.
Before teachers start dancing in the streets, they should examine the positions and qualification of public-office candidates.