(The Center Square) – Public sector unions spent some of the highest amounts in Ohio during the 2021-22 election cycle, and most of that money went to losing candidates.
Public sector unions spent $6.2 million in the Buckeye State during the cycle, with the Ohio Democratic Party receiving more than $1 million, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation.
It’s the sixth-most money spent during the cycle in any state.
“Ohio’s government unions ignored political diversity among their members and earmarked 95% of their political spending for Democrats,” said Andrew Holman, a policy analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation. “I hope this report inspires members of the Ohio Education Association, AFSCME Council 8, and other Ohio public employee unions to demand union executives do better, because they certainly deserve better.”
Nany Whaley and Tim Ryan received the highest individual contributions during the election cycle. Both Democrats, Whaley ran for governor and lost to Mike DeWine, while Ryan lost to J.D. Vance in the race for U.S. Senate.
The report, The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across The Country, found the four largest government unions were active in every state.
The National Education Association; American Federation of Teachers; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees; and Service Employees International Union spent $708.8 million on politics during the 2021–22 election cycle.
They spent the most in Illinois ($27.9 million), California ($24.9 million), Minnesota ($13.2 million), Pennsylvania ($12.1 million) and Washington ($7.5 million). These five states accounted for nearly 60% of all state PAC expenditures.
Government union spending through political action committees at the state and local levels totaled $145.1 million during the 2021-22 election cycle.
The report found that nearly 60% of all union political spending comes from union dues, while government union-connected political action committee contributions accounted for about 40% of political spending.
Member PAC deductions must be voluntary but automatically deducted through many states’ taxpayer-funded public payroll systems.
PAC contributions were heavily one-sided, with 95.7% going to Democratic candidates and organizations across state and federal elections.
The report concludes that the spending of government unions influences states nationwide.
“Armed with millions of members and numerous special legal privileges, the four largest government unions have amassed significant political power,” the report says. “With this power, government unions have dedicated significant financial resources toward maintaining and expanding the legal structures from which they derive their power.”
