Minnesota leads the country in the proportion of state political party contributions coming from teacher unions, according to a new analysis by the Fordham Institute. Between 2019 and 2024, teacher unions in Minnesota made up a larger share of money given to state political parties than in any other state. The analysis, which updates a 2012 ranking of teacher union strength, measures and ranks union influence in K-12 education across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., examining dimensions that include involvement in politics through endorsements, advertisements, and financial contributions.
The report shows Minnesota ranking 8th overall for teacher union involvement in politics, but the state's performance varies widely across different measures within that category. Minnesota placed fourth nationally when researchers compared teacher union contributions to state-level candidates against contributions from the state's 10 biggest business interests. For the share of contributions to individual candidates coming from teacher unions, Minnesota sits at 20th. Updated 2026 reporting to the Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board reveals that Education Minnesota's political action committee has directed more than $1.5 million — over half of its nearly $3 million in total spending so far — straight to DFL political party units, including the DFL House and Senate Caucuses and the Minnesota DFL State Central Committee. Contributions to candidates, nearly all of whom are DFL members such as Amy Klobuchar's gubernatorial campaign and Steve Simon's secretary of state campaign, total $35,400. The PAC is also backing local school tax referendum campaigns through mailers, phone banking, and other voter outreach designed to boost approval of local property tax increases, and has spent money promoting a "yes" vote on the proposed state constitutional amendment to the Permanent School Fund, with that spending jumping sharply from roughly $1,400 to nearly $69,000 since the PAC's August filing.
The report notes that educators who disagree with these political priorities or who simply don't want the union focused on politics aren't required to support the PAC, but to get the annual PAC contribution refunded, they must request it each year. Education Minnesota raised the contribution from $25 to $30 per member last year. Beyond the PAC contribution, Education Minnesota uses union dues for political activities and lobbying expenditures, which it self-reports in its annual federal filing to the U.S. Department of Labor. In its most recent available filing, covering Sept. 1, 2024 through Aug. 31, 2025, Education Minnesota reported spending $3.57 million on political activities and lobbying. Minnesota teachers also pay dues to the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association that get spent on their political activities and lobbying, with Minnesota union members paying around $1,000 annually in combined local, state, and national dues.
The report explains that while the PAC contribution is modest in size, for many educators it's a matter of principle because of the political causes and politicians the dollars fund. A more member-driven approach would allow educators to provide affirmative consent before PAC contributions are deducted, rather than the current opt-out system that requires members to fill out and sign a refund request form each year by the Oct. 31 deadline. State and national dues have increased for the 2025-26 membership year, and state dues have climbed every year since at least 2014-15. Every year from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, Minnesota educators get a window to decide whether union membership is still right for them, and the report suggests that educators who no longer wish to bankroll the union's political spending can submit a resignation letter during September and explore professional educator associations that provide liability coverage, legal protection, and other benefits for a fraction of the cost without the politics.