Congressional resignations and electoral defeats are poised to alter the ranks of influential committees at the U.S. Capitol, even before the results of Tuesday’s pivotal midterms are finalized.
— New faces are destined to occupy seats that influence funding and oversight over the federal Education Department.
— Lawmakers are already jockeying for top posts on the House and Senate education panels. The balance of power in Congress and leadership can confer sweeping power to shape government funding, launch investigations, and hold the line on President Joe Biden’s agenda — or drain the ink from his veto pen.
— And don’t forget this old adage: All politics are local. Tuesday’s midterms feature races for school board seats and elected superintendents across the country — plus scores of gubernatorial and legislative posts that wield incredible influence over classrooms.
— “Right now we are fighting for the future of our country,” First lady Jill Biden said Saturday as she campaigned in Arizona alongside Sen. Mark Kelly, Rep. Ruben Gallego, and National Education Association President Becky Pringle. “This election is a choice between two drastically different visions for our country,” she said. “It really could come down to just a handful of votes.”
