Where U.S. Governors Stand on School Choice – 2022

(This post was last updated Dec. 1, 2022.)

Last week, 36 states held gubernatorial elections, with 31 incumbent governors eligible to run for re-election and eight not eligible or not seeking reelection.

The results are in.

Our team of policy experts have poured over the winning candidates’ campaign websites, media hits and speech transcripts to gauge where each of them stands on school choice—specifically private educational choice policies, such as education savings accounts (ESAs), school vouchers and tax-credit scholarships.

Keep in mind that past support of or opposition to choice reforms does not necessarily mean a proposal will succeed or fail, but a governor’s position serves as a likely indicator of what could happen if a bill were to reach his or her desk.

If you don’t see your state, it’s because there wasn’t an election for governor this year. Check out our 2020 blog post instead.

Lastly, if you think one of our ratings is incorrect, please contact media@edchoice.org, and we’ll take a look and review our information.

Alabama

Kay Ivey (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
As governor, Kay Ivey has been an ally of school choice. Not only has she expanded scholarship programs in her state but has issued proclamations recognizing National School Choice Week.

Alaska

Mike Dunleavy (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
As governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy has previously issued a National School Choice Week proclamation supporting educational choice.

Arizona

Katie Hobbs (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:

Democrat Katie Hobbs has gone on the record many times stating she opposes school choice programs. She voted against the 2011 bill that established the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Her opposition for over a decade and concern are rooted in how school voucher programs would evolve.  Hobbs supports reinvesting the money into public schools.

Arkansas

Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
The Republican Governor-elect held roundtable policy focus groups and campaigned on empowering parents, fighting to “provide a quality education for every child in our state.” It is notable that her education advisor was chief of staff to Gov. Doug Ducey during the universal education savings account (ESA) passage in Arizona.

California

Gavin Newsom (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
Gov. Newsom is no friend of school choice. As governor, Newsom enacted a moratorium on charter schools and has never advocated for any form of private school choice. While opposing school choice, he sends his children to private schools.

Colorado

Jared Polis (D)
Educational choice supporter? LIMITED

Supporting material:
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis can be described as a supporter of public school choice. The incumbent is a supporter of public charter schools, having founded one and co-founded another. In 2022, he spoke out against a federal proposal under U.S. Education Secretary Cardona that would make changes to the federal Charter Schools Program, placing burdensome restrictions on charter schools to access start-up grants. Polis advocated to expand kindergarten in his previous term and during this election cycle has promised to expand preschool programs as well. His response to a gubernatorial survey indicated support of open transfer and transportation reform. He remains committed to public school choice. In January 2022, he joined other state and local leaders and signed a proclamation recognizing National School Choice Week. Polis is a former State Board of Education member who founded two charter schools for homeless youth and new immigrants.

Connecticut

Ned Lamont (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
In 2022, Gov. Ned Lamont responded to a Connecticut Education Association issued questionnaire on “money follows the child proposals.” He reported:

“I oppose legislation that diverts funding and resources from public schools. I also oppose vouchers and for-profit privatization of public school systems.”

Florida

Ron DeSantis (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a strong advocate of school choice policies throughout his governorship. He signed multiple bills significantly expanding eligibility to the state’s numerous scholarship programs.

Georgia

Brian Kemp (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Brian Kemp is a long supporter of school choice. As governor, Kemp has signed numerous bills expanding both of the state’s school choice programs—the Qualified Education Expense Program and Georgia Special Needs Program. Further, as a state senator, he co-sponsored one of Georgia’s earliest charter school bills.

Hawaii

Josh Green (D)
Educational choice supporter? UNCLEAR

Supporting material:
Governor-Elect Josh Green has not taken a public stance on ESA, voucher or tax-credit scholarship programs. However, he has accepted the endorsement of anti-school choice interest groups.

Idaho

Brad Little (R)
Educational choice supporter? UNCLEAR

Supporting material:
Gov. Brad Little has been supportive of choice. In January 2022, he even issued a proclamation recognizing January 23–29, 2022 as Idaho School Choice Week. However, it’s still unclear how he feels about fully funded educational choice for all students.

Illinois

J.B. Pritzker (D)
Educational choice supporter? UNCLEAR

Supporting material:
Gov. Pritzker has previously expressed doing away with the Invest in Kids Program. In this year’s Chicago Sun Times candidate questionnaire, he responded “yes” to a question asking about support for the program. Since then, he has made the following comment: “With assurance from the advocates for Invest in Kids that they will support increased public-school funding, my budgets have ultimately included the relatively small Invest in Kids Scholarship Program,” Pritzker responded.

The questionnaire and comments perhaps show a change in perspective toward educational choice. However, his comments leave choice advocates with questions about his overall support for educational choice reforms.

Iowa

Kim Reynolds (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Kim Reynolds has long been an outspoken advocate for educational choice putting forward her proposal each of the last two years that included an ESA proposal, charter school expansion and open enrollment expansion.

Reynolds issued a proclamation declaring January 23–29, 2022 as Iowa School Choice Week. She has joined a growing bipartisan group of governors who have taken pen in hand to officially recognize the importance of children having effective educational options.

Kansas

Laura Kelly (D)
Educational choice supporter? LIMITED

Supporting material:
In May of 2022, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed a Kansas school choice bill to allow open enrollment beginning in the 2024–25 school year. It leaves capacity limits with local districts. Kelly also signed a measure expanding a state program that gives tax credits for donations to private school scholarship programs. She explicitly remains opposed to school choice and ESAs, “diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools.” In her 2018 questionnaire to the Kansas School Boards Association, Governor-elect Kelly stated, “I do not believe that public money should go to support students in private schools, rather those funds should be invested in Kansas’ public education system. Tax credits, vouchers and scholarships to private school students lack oversight and fairness, and should not be a part of Kansas’s education budget.”

Maine

Janet Mills (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
In October, the Maine-based television station WMTW reported in an article that Gov. Janet Mills “disagrees” with vouchers: “That’s been proposed before and has fallen on deaf ears for a lot of good reasons.”

Further, Mills is also on the record opposing charter schools: “I firmly oppose taking tax dollars from the public education system to fund new private or charter schools, and I do not support lifting the cap on new charters.”

Maryland

Wes Moore (D)
Educational choice supporter? UNCLEAR

Supporting material:
When asked about school vouchers during his candidacy for the governorship this year, Gov. Wes Moore stated: “I just look forward to working with the legislature to come up with the correct answer.”

Massachusetts

Maura Healey (D)
Educational choice supporter? UNCLEAR

Supporting material:
Maura Healey accepts the endorsements of numerous anti-school choice interest groups and has never publicly indicated support for school choice.

Michigan

Gretchen Whitmer (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been openly hostile to educational choice. In 2022, Whitmer vetoed a proposal that would have seen the creation of a tax credit-funded educational choice program. When explaining her reason for a veto, she proclaimed the state couldn’t afford to divert public tax money to private schools via tax credits for donors.

Minnesota

Tim Walz (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
Gov. Tim Walz does not have a history of supporting educational choice in Minnesota. While he has not explicitly stated he would not support a proposal, he is heavily supported by Education Minnesota, an interest group that openly opposes educational choice. He also has a history of declining meetings with educational choice parent advocates.

Nebraska

Jim Pillen (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Jim Pillen looks to be continuing Gov. Ricketts’ legacy of support for educational choice. Recently, when speaking on K–12 education, Pillen said, “Nebraska needs to stop resisting school choice and introduce more competition into the system.” Pillen added, “Whether a parent chooses a public, parochial or other form of private school, it should be their decision.”

In a recent gubernatorial debate, Gov. Pillen also expressed support for an education funding formula that favored funds following the student along with support for charter schools.

Nevada

Joe Lombardo (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
The Republican Governor-elect has been on the record during the campaign as being supportive of school choice. A January 25, 2022, tweet from his account stated his position most affirmatively, “As Governor, I will empower parents by expanding charter schools, school choice, and opportunity scholarships. YOU know better than politicians when it comes to your children and their schooling- policies here in Nevada should ALWAYS reflect that.”

Lombardo’s website indicates support for ESAs as well: “By expanding access to charter schools, providing more opportunity scholarships, and investing in Education Savings Accounts, Joe believes that we can make our education system work better for every student and every family.”

New Hampshire

Chris Sununu (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Sununu is a longtime, avid educational choice supporter.

During an Oct. 25 debate hosted by Bulletin/NHPR, when talking about expanding Education Freedom Accounts, Gov. Sununu stated, “I would be open to expanding it if (lawmakers) want to do that.” Sununu said at a press conference last Wednesday, “It’s because there’s such high demand. We’ve created a product—we’ve created an opportunity for families, and more families than we anticipated want it.”

Sununu was an instrumental advocate in the 2021 push for Education Freedom Accounts and ultimately signed the proposal into law. Prior to that in 2020, he directed $1.5 million in federal money that came to New Hampshire as part of the CARES Act federal relief package for scholarships to private elementary, middle and high schools.

New Mexico

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
Educational choice supporter? LIMITED

Supporting material:
In 2022, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bipartisan bill that improved charter school facilities funding. Since serving as governor, her education reforms have been expansive but have not included school choice initiatives. Her campaign website comments that she will fight to “ensure that every New Mexico student- no matter where they live or what their background is- has access to high-quality education they deserve… [she] is dedicated to uplifting every student, parent, educator, and school in New Mexico.” She has not taken a public stance on school choice programs. She issued the following statement from her Congressional office after meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in July 2018: “Most troubling is her support for diverting public funds to cover voucher programs that undermine the public school system. I am proud to stand with students and educators in reminding Secretary DeVos of her responsibility to support public school students and help families and communities thrive.”

New York

Kathy Hochul (D)
Educational choice supporter? LIMITED

Supporting material:
While at her recent October debate, Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated support for lifting the state’s cap on the expansion of charter schools, during her first year in office, Hochul did not advocate for any form of school choice. Further, she has never indicated support for ESAs, vouchers, or tax-credit scholarship programs and accepts endorsements from anti-school choice interest groups.

Ohio

Mike DeWine (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has historically supported expansions to the Buckeye state’s school voucher programs.

DeWine also proclaimed Jan. 23-29 Ohio School Choice Week, recognizing the role K-12 educational choice plays in the lives of children, parents, and teachers across the state.

Oklahoma

Kevin Stitt (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
School choice was a focus for Gov. Kevin Stitt prior to this election cycle. The policy has been a central element to Stitt’s administration over the last several years. He mentioned it in State of the State speeches and was the platform for his re-election campaign. The governor has remained steadfast in his outspoken support and determination to prioritize school choice in Oklahoma, even amidst criticism from some of his legislative colleagues.

Oregon

Tina Kotek (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
As a candidate, Tina Kotek accepted the endorsement of the Oregon Education Association, an interest group strongly opposed to school choice. Further, as an Oregon State Representative in 2016, Kotek received a 100% rating from the Oregon Education Association on education issues.

Pennsylvania

Josh Shapiro (D)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
In the leadup to the election, Gov-elect Shapiro reiterated support for educational choice on multiple occasions.

Shapiro expressly named the Lifeline Scholarship proposal, a targeted ESA, as well as EITC, a tax-credit scholarship program as beneficial programs he would support.

In a Pennsylvania Chamber event, Shapiro further confirmed that he supports both forms of choice.

“This is not an either-or,” Shapiro said Monday in a meeting with CNHI Pennsylvania reporters and editors. “I think this is a both-and. I think we can invest in public education and empower parents to put their kids in the best opportunity for them to succeed, and I don’t think we have to harm public schools in the process…It’s what I believe.”

Shapiro did stop short of full support for money following the child, saying he’d favor an additional appropriation for Lifeline Scholarships, so public schools would retain all funding for children they no longer educate.

It remains to be seen how Shapiro as governor will act toward fully robust educational freedom. Thus far his positive comments on choice have been limited to private choice.

Rhode Island

Dan McKee (D)
Educational choice supporter? LIMITED

Supporting material:

While Gov. Dan McKee has supported public charter schools in the past, earlier this year, McKee’s office issued a statement clarifying that McKee opposes school vouchers.

“The governor has been on the record for years supporting public money going toward public schools which includes public charters, but he does not support public money going towards private school vouchers…”

South Carolina

Henry McMaster (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Henry McMaster supports school choice. During his time in the governorship, he supported a bill in the state’s legislature establishing ESAs and issued a National School Choice Week proclamation.

South Dakota

Kristi Noem (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Kristi Noem has routinely expressed support for educational choice in South Dakota. In the last legislative session, she signed an expansion of the Partners in Education Tax Credit Scholarship program allowing the cap to expand from $2 million to $3.5 million.

Jan. 24–30 will officially be South Dakota School Choice Week, thanks to a recent proclamation by the governor.

Tennessee

Bill Lee (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Bill Lee has historically been a staunch supporter of unencumbered educational choice. Earlier this year, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing the Lee-backed education savings account program of interest to proceed.

“Every child deserves a high-quality education, and today’s Tennessee Supreme Court opinion on ESAs puts parents in Memphis and Nashville one step closer to finding the best educational fit for their children,” Lee said in a statement.

Texas

Greg Abbott (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
In May 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott was quoted as saying he is in favor of giving parents “the choice to send their children to any public school, charter school, or private school with state funding following the student.” He has named himself as a longtime supporter of school choice as a broad policy. Endorsements of school choice opponents and failure to champion a strong push of the legislature have drawn criticism of his support in the past. During his campaign this cycle, he held events at private and charter schools and met with school choice activists, signaling that Abbott may be leaning into his support and preparing to engage more actively this term.

Vermont

Phil Scott (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
Gov. Phil Scott is a supporter of the state’s Town Tuitioning program, which provides educational options for towns without public schools. Founded in 1869, the participating towns offer vouchers covering tuition for the school of a family’s choice. Further, in 2022 Scott recognized National School Choice Week in a gubernatorial proclamation.

Wisconsin

Tony Evers (D)
Educational choice supporter? NO

Supporting material:
Gov. Tony Evers, a former Wisconsin State Superintendent, has long opposed educational options for families, instead pushing for more system funding. Evers ran for governor in 2018 as a contrast to Scott Walker, a school choice champion. Evers has opposed vouchers, tax credits, charter schools and even open enrollment.

Wyoming

Mark Gordon (R)
Educational choice supporter? YES

Supporting material:
When first elected in 2019, Gov. Mark Gordon seemed to be pro-parent and largely in favor of expanding families’ educational opportunities. While all indications show him to still be supportive, it has not been a priority. The education policy advisor for the governor went on the record as saying, “Governor Gordon is supportive of local choice. He’s also in favor of a parent’s choice to pick the best education option for their kids.”