| Alabama |
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| No races. |
| Alaska |
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| Legislative composition has changed slightly but not enough to impact education reform - Palin has fewer Republicans in her legislature now but comes home renewed and refreshed to hopefully takle the issues she learned more about on the campaign trail... |
| Arizona |
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| With Governor Napolitano being rumored to come to Washington in support of the President, a special election might usher in a new reform mentality. Reform may need a boost as the Republicans who traditionally supported reform now number fewer and so must work harder. |
| Arkansas |
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| No change in this state, but change is overdue. |
| California |
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| The Golden State has the same legislative composition as before; in his last two years, the Governator will hopefully pursue changes to help children still afflicted by bad policies. |
| Colorado |
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| The more things change... |
| Connecticut |
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| Snore... In a state known for its high ranking public schools, almost nothing happened in this election. |
| Delaware |
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| Jack Markell's election to Governor will not improve the fate of school choice based upon his soft stance on accountability and outcomes, and his past support for the status quo. The Senate turned to Democratic hands and the House remained Democratic, so the question is whether any reform leaders will emerge to break with their party? This is a state for Democrats for Education Reform to challenge! |
| District of Columbia |
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| In the District, the City Council acts as the legislature and this time around reform friends like Jack Evans and Marion Barry will be sure to keep the engines moving on progress in D.C. schools. |
| Florida |
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| Other than hanging chads, no change to education reform came out of this election. But the status quo right now is good news in Florida where most of the leadership squarely supports reform. |
| Georgia |
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| Besides the legislature which remains largely the same in composition, no other state offices were up for grabs. We'll look with hope to the next Governor's race, which needs a bit of a maverick to push stronger policies here. |
| Hawaii |
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| Aloha and mahalo... We need to visit soon to be able to tell you if there's anything significant happening as a result of election day! |
| Idaho |
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| This sleepy northwest state has actually made considerable progress expanding educational opportunities for children. Let's keep it that way. |
| Illinois |
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| This state's favorite son could possibly influence policy here if he'll take a bold stance on reform. Something's gotta give. |
| Indiana |
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| This bell weather state is important to presidential politics and education reform efforts alike. Tony Bennett as education chief will support incumbent Governor Mitch Daniels in his pro-reform stance. But, the Senate will need to be strong against the increasingly oppositional House. |
| Iowa |
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| The epitome of Lake Wobegone. If these folks can caucus like it's a football game, why do they remain so complacent about shaking up the status quo? |
| Kansas |
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| The Dustbowl kicked up nothing new here. Where is Toto when you need him? |
| Kentucky |
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| Reformers in the Bluegrass State are whistling Dixie, but prepare for a major push this year for wholesale school reform. |
| Louisiana |
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| Our pal Bobby Jindal must be relieved that neither he nor his legislature had to politick, giving them time to continue to transform the state's schools. But keep an eye on that Paul Vallas guy in New Orleans.... |
| Maine |
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| No news here, but we'd gladly take some for the education reform movement. |
| Maryland |
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| Maryland, my Maryland! Without a race to watch, we're focused on 2010 and hope that something upsets the comfort of the Old Line State. |
| Massachusetts |
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| Charters and standards are under attack by the sitting governor here and this year's legislative outcomes were uneventful. Nothing will happen of substance here until the grassroots mobilizes its energies forward. |
| Michigan |
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| State legislative control remains split with the House run by Democrats and the Senate led by Republicans. Batter up! |
| Minnesota |
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| Everyone's a comedian. |
| Mississippi |
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| Only the U.S. Senate was in play this year. But, we'll be waiting. |
| Missouri |
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| Show us the reformer, not Gubernatorial winner Jay Nixon who has vowed to veto any legislation that would expand education options. With the House and Senate in the hands of the opposite party, we pray that they keep hitting the ball to him so either Nixon blinks or takes a direct hit so some sense is knocked into him. |
| Montana |
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| Incumbent Governor Brian Schweitzer wins re-election, but his party lost the Senate. For as much political activity as Montana will have seen in 2008, its citizens have yet to see an educational reform they are willing to adopt. We are cynical that will change, but we're will to try now that there's a little new blood in the State House. Sigh - the re-elected State Superintendent, though, is not a reformer. |
| Nebraska |
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| How many unicameral non-partisan legislatures does it take to bring interest in children's educational choices? All we can say about this state is that there was an election. Maybe with the retiring of state board appointed Superintendent Christiansen we'll see some activity. We can dream can't we? |
| Nevada |
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| Nevada Republicans lose the Senate to Democratic control, putting the only protection the state's charter schools and standards supporters have out to pasture. Maybe we'll have to play the tables to win some battles. |
| New Hampshire |
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| Incumbent John Lynch, who has a track record made of granite when it comes to educational reform, won another term in the Governor's office and the legislature remains virtually the same. |
| New Jersey |
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| The Garden State is up next year, but the Governor might come to D.C. to help the President. That would not be a huge loss to reform, in fact, a challenge to the state's methods for spending and controlling on all schools is overdue. Did someone say Wall Street? |
| New Mexico |
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| No shifts here. |
| New York |
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| Despite a pro-reform Governor in David Patterson, some are wondering what the switch in the Senate from Republican to Democrat will mean for breaking up public school bureaucracies. This was a clear win for the unions. |
| North Carolina |
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| With Bev Purdue in the Governor's seat and June Atkinson as Education Chief, we're certain the restrictive charter cap is here to stay. The North Carolina Education Association is so proud that big daddy NEA came in to help them pound the pavement and elect pro-establishment candidates. |
| North Dakota |
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| The re-election of Governor Hoeven does not improve the likelihood that school choice will be expanded in this rural state, which could really use the option. North Dakota is one of only ten states in the Union without a charter school law and this election did not change that fact. Wayne Sanstead won the race for State Education Chief. |
| Ohio |
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| This is a strong charter state but presidential politics, which swung to the left, might just embolden anti-reform Governor Ted Strickland. The Ohio House loses its champion for choice, John Husted, as its leader now that Democrats are in control. |
| Oklahoma |
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| Oklahoma Republicans took the Senate, which state reformers report is good news as it was split down the middle before, making progress next to impossible. |
| Oregon |
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| Oregon's laid back attitude on reform will remain. |
| Pennsylvania |
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| Another one to watch in 2010. |
| Rhode Island |
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| We'll look to mayors here from now on to take the lead on any reforms. |
| South Carolina |
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| No news here, though a few incumbents who have allowed new charters to be funded at half what other public schools are given should have lost their jobs. |
| South Dakota |
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| No charter law. No school choice. No progress. |
| Tennessee |
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| Tennessee reformers picked up friends in both Houses and it's the only state in the Union that went from being Democratic in the legislature to Republican. That doesn't necessarily mean a win for stronger charters and choice, but it's a start when the legislators are elected without the teachers' union's endorsement. |
| Texas |
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| Texas is where it has been, but has never been as progressive as when our current President was there. Seriously. |
| Utah |
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| We love Governor Huntsman and Utah voters do too. He's great for education reform and children. John Huntsman wins the Gubernatorial race, again. |
| Vermont |
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| At the end of the day, incumbent Governor Jim Douglas wins another 4 years and the opportunity to reconsider his priorities and place education reform and children on his "to-do" list. |
| Virginia |
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| The new Mayor of Richmond is open to charters, something we hope a new legislature in 2009 will usher in statewide. |
| Washington |
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| Dino Rossi was a far better choice for our school children than Governor Christine Gregoire and her status quo approach to public education, but he lost again to the status quo and Gregoire. Reform lost an advocate when Randy Dorn beat Terry Bergeson for Education Chief. |
| West Virginia |
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| Governor Joe Manchin won re-election so there is little hope for better schools in these hills. |
| Wisconsin |
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| We won't badger you, there is nothing to say about any change coming in the political environment here. The House which is currently run by major league reformers just switched control from the Republican to the Democratic party, which once upon a time helped bring us some of the most significant voucher victories in the nation but has since left their principles behind. |
