(The Center Square) – Ohio public sector unions spent nearly $9 million during the 2024 election cycle, with more than half of it going to proposed constitutional amendments.
The state’s union election spending of $8.8 million is one of the highest totals in the nation, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation, which also said some of that money comes from union dues.
“Ohio, like the rest of the country, saw deep union interest in the 2023-24 cycle, with millions of dollars flowing into the state,” David R. Osborne, senior director of labor policy for the Commonwealth Foundation, told TCS. “This heavy price tag is a testament to Ohio’s influence in the recent election, with a pivotal U.S. Senate seat and openings in the state legislature. Unions also pumped millions into progressive causes being debated in Ohio, from redistricting to blocking voter integrity amendments. Worse yet, a portion of this political spending comes out of members’ dues from workers in Ohio.”
Results for union causes during the 2023-24 cycle, however, fared much better than the same report showed during the 2021-22 cycle.
Four years ago, most of the money went to losing Democratic candidates. The recent report, however, showed more of a split in wins and losses.
Unions spent $3.9 million in PAC money on a proposed amendment election that would have created an independent redistricting commission. That measurer failed.
They also spent $1.2 million in PAC money on an amendment that would have made it harder for the people of the state to pass proposed amendments. That measure also failed.
Unions contributed $2.1 million in PAC money to the Ohio Democratic Party, which lost a significant U.S. Senate race when Republican Bernie Moreno defeated long-time Democrat incumbent Sherrod Brown.
However, Ohio unions contributed $40,000 in PAC money – among the highest amounts nationwide – to each of the congressional campaigns of Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes. Both won easily.
Overall, the Commonwealth Foundation’s most recent report found the top four public sector unions – the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spent more than $915 million on politics during the 2023-2024 cycle.
The report found that 95.8% of donations for state-level candidates went toward Democrats. At the federal level, 98.8% of union donations went to Democratic candidates.
“Unchecked political power by government unions creates a system where executives – often with their own personal interests in mind – decide the political and financial decisions of the workers they are meant to represent,” Osborne said. “In an important state like Ohio, union workers deserve accountability from their union leaders, not hidden agendas.”
