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Two Democratic candidates appear to have won seats on the Michigan Board of Education, part of a wave of Democratic victories statewide.
The Michigan Information & Research Service has called the race for incumbent board member Pamela Pugh and for newcomer Mitchell Robinson. While the Associated Press makes early calls on top-of-the-ticket races, it is not doing so for Board of Education race.
“We know that that education was such an important topic this election cycle,” said Pugh, who has first elected to the Board in 2014, “so I really look forward to getting back to the to the work at hand, making sure our children have educators who are well paid and well respected, helping to assess the needs of our children post-pandemic and making sure that that we’re creating the environments and putting forward the best tools and education for them.”
Pugh has worked in public health for more than two decades, including serving as Flint’s chief public health advisor in the wake of the Flint Water Crisis.
She added that she is excited about “a legislature that I think will be supportive of the best education that we can possibly provide for our children as well as a governor who will work with the state board to do the same.”
Robinson, a professor of music at Michigan State University, said in an email that he’s looking forward to working with other members of the board “to strengthen Michigan’s schools, defend our state’s teachers, and make sure every child gets a great education.”
Their Republican opponents were two longtime conservative activists, Tamara Carlone and Linda Lee Tarver, both staunch supporters of former President Donald Trump who built their campaigns around opposition to what they characterized as leftist indoctrination in the classroom.
Pugh and Robinson essentially called that a made-up issue meant to divide an already divided electorate.
If Pugh and Robinson do win, Democrats would hold a five to two majority on the eight-member board. Democrat Jason Strayhorn vacated his seat earlier this year. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has yet to appoint his replacement.
The Board has a limited role in the day-to-day operations of local school districts, but it does set educational standards, approve curricular requirements and hire the state superintendent. Members serve eight-year terms.
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