Moms for Liberty got its bell rung.
For starters, on Tuesday, three candidates endorsed by the conservative group were defeated in their effort to gain seats on the Linn-Mar school board.
Linn-Mar has become the epicenter of efforts by conservatives to malign schools as liberal indoctrination centers, curtail the rights of LGBTQ students and remove books from library shelves and curriculum. Moms for Liberty has led the charge for anti-LGBTQ legislation and book removals.
Although the group flexed its muscle at the GOP-controlled Statehouse, it had a bad election night. In addition to the three Linn-Mar candidates, two Moms for Liberty candidates in Cedar Rapids were defeated.
The trend went beyond Linn-Mar. In other parts of the state, races in the Des Moines suburbs Ankeny, Johnston and West Des Moines went to progressive candidates, according to unofficial results. In the Johnston district, where the conservative Family Leader spent thousands of dollars boosting a four-candidate slate, all four lost.
Meanwhile, candidates endorsed by the LGBTQ advocacy group One Iowa, won in Ankeny, Johnston, Des Moines, Urbandale and Waukee. In the Linn-Mar race, incumbent Brittania Morey was endorsed by One Iowa and reelected. Even in conservative Pella, voters narrowly defeated a measure putting the public library under city council control.
“Iowa voters spoke loud and clear: they are sick and tired of bullies and book bans,” said Keenan Crow, policy director for One Iowa. This was a clear repudiation of Gov. Reynolds' harmful education policies and the extremist candidates that supported them. We congratulate all our endorsed candidates for running regardless of their success, and we look forward to working with those who won their races. Our case in this election was simple: every student deserves the chance to learn in a safe, inclusive environment. Last night the voters of Iowa agreed.”
One Iowa reports that 85 percent of their endorsed candidates won. And 92 percent of Moms for Liberty backed candidates lost.
Mike Pence, who ripped Linn-Mar during a televised debate, couldn’t be reached for comment.
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Of course, it’s tough to ascribe a motive for an individual’s vote. The statewide trendlines tell us something. It’s likely many voters knew what was at stake.
In the Linn-Mar district where I live, I sense a weariness after all the national attention the district got for its gender support policies. Electing Moms for Liberty candidates could keep the drama going.
It might also be that after the Legislature and governor approved a series of restrictions on books, transgender supports and LGBTQ curriculum, voters saw little reason to dwell on those issues. Conservatives were still fighting the last war.
Voters could be fed up with political polarization spilling into non-partisan school boards, distracting attention away from significant education issues. This also could be a backlash against a constant barrage being fired at public schools and teachers by conservatives. The caricature they’ve drawn of schools as a cultural enemy doesn’t remotely resemble public schools.
And, of course, there are those of us who have condemned the cruel, reckless agenda aimed at transgender kids for pollical gain. I hope those kids can take small comfort in the fact that their community didn’t buy in. Instead, Moms for Liberty got schooled.
(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com.
www.thegazette.com
For starters, on Tuesday, three candidates endorsed by the conservative group were defeated in their effort to gain seats on the Linn-Mar school board.
Linn-Mar has become the epicenter of efforts by conservatives to malign schools as liberal indoctrination centers, curtail the rights of LGBTQ students and remove books from library shelves and curriculum. Moms for Liberty has led the charge for anti-LGBTQ legislation and book removals.
Although the group flexed its muscle at the GOP-controlled Statehouse, it had a bad election night. In addition to the three Linn-Mar candidates, two Moms for Liberty candidates in Cedar Rapids were defeated.
The trend went beyond Linn-Mar. In other parts of the state, races in the Des Moines suburbs Ankeny, Johnston and West Des Moines went to progressive candidates, according to unofficial results. In the Johnston district, where the conservative Family Leader spent thousands of dollars boosting a four-candidate slate, all four lost.
Meanwhile, candidates endorsed by the LGBTQ advocacy group One Iowa, won in Ankeny, Johnston, Des Moines, Urbandale and Waukee. In the Linn-Mar race, incumbent Brittania Morey was endorsed by One Iowa and reelected. Even in conservative Pella, voters narrowly defeated a measure putting the public library under city council control.
“Iowa voters spoke loud and clear: they are sick and tired of bullies and book bans,” said Keenan Crow, policy director for One Iowa. This was a clear repudiation of Gov. Reynolds' harmful education policies and the extremist candidates that supported them. We congratulate all our endorsed candidates for running regardless of their success, and we look forward to working with those who won their races. Our case in this election was simple: every student deserves the chance to learn in a safe, inclusive environment. Last night the voters of Iowa agreed.”
One Iowa reports that 85 percent of their endorsed candidates won. And 92 percent of Moms for Liberty backed candidates lost.
Mike Pence, who ripped Linn-Mar during a televised debate, couldn’t be reached for comment.
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Of course, it’s tough to ascribe a motive for an individual’s vote. The statewide trendlines tell us something. It’s likely many voters knew what was at stake.
In the Linn-Mar district where I live, I sense a weariness after all the national attention the district got for its gender support policies. Electing Moms for Liberty candidates could keep the drama going.
It might also be that after the Legislature and governor approved a series of restrictions on books, transgender supports and LGBTQ curriculum, voters saw little reason to dwell on those issues. Conservatives were still fighting the last war.
Voters could be fed up with political polarization spilling into non-partisan school boards, distracting attention away from significant education issues. This also could be a backlash against a constant barrage being fired at public schools and teachers by conservatives. The caricature they’ve drawn of schools as a cultural enemy doesn’t remotely resemble public schools.
And, of course, there are those of us who have condemned the cruel, reckless agenda aimed at transgender kids for pollical gain. I hope those kids can take small comfort in the fact that their community didn’t buy in. Instead, Moms for Liberty got schooled.
(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com.
Opinion: Rumble on the right fades on election night in Iowa
Moms for Liberty founder Tiffany Justice speaks at the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in …
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