Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, fervently exhorted members to wholeheartedly confront the Democratic presidential contenders during her opening speech at the organization’s annual event held in the capital last Friday. The group, representing parent activists nationwide, has definitely shifted towards a more supportive stance for Trump and his political ideologies as the November election steadily approaches, illustrating the courage and resolve of these parents. Moms for Liberty, in its formal structure, identifies as a bipartisan, nonprofit entity, welcoming anyone who advocates for parents’ rights in decisions regarding their children’s education. Yet, it is quite apparent which side their loyalty leans towards amidst America’s political chasm.
An art depiction vividly illustrated Kamala Harris, the Vice President, ominously presiding over a defeated bald eagle; a sign of communism prominently featured on her jacket while blood dripped from her mouth. However, a spokeswoman for Moms for Liberty stated she did not witness the graphic artwork, pointing out that the event’s official signs were limited to the organization’s logo. The visible adoration the organization posesses for Trump offers an advantage to our former president by strengthening a vital portion of his supporter base—parents who echo his beliefs. These include the perspective that the U.S Education Department is overly bloated and inefficient, equality programs distract from critical learning fundamentals, and policies such as vaccine mandates and certain rules concerning transgender students infringe on parental rights.
Uncertainty looms over how the support of Moms for Liberty for Trump and his policies will impact local school board elections—these races have turned out to be some of the most hotly contested on numerous local ballots since 2022, a year following the establishment of Moms for Liberty. Communities where the group’s candidates have won majority on school boards express dissatisfaction with their single-minded obsession over removing books, scrutinizing discussion of race, and rejecting LGBTQ+ identities, straying far from promising paths towards academic enhancement.
This divergence from progress resulted in a retort from more moderate parents and instructors’ unions. Regardless of not planning to officially endorse any presidential candidate, Moms for Liberty is far from hesitant to participate actively in the political sphere. The group, coined as synonymous with ‘parents’ rights’ movement in local school boards during its initial years, recently expanded its involvement in the national political landscape. Their contribution to the much-debated conservative blueprint for the future Republican administration, Project 2025, as an advisory board member underscores this point.
Moms for Liberty has also committed an investment exceeding $3 million in four crucial states under the presidential race spotlight. The funds have been utilized for advertising efforts in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, with included messages that scrutinize the Biden administration. Tiffany Justice states this advertising approach has successfully increased Moms for Liberty membership and motivated otherwise politically aloof members to register to vote in these states.
In an interview, Justice alluded to the fact that she expects to see an influx of first-time voters who now grasp the significance of their vote and voice in the political community. As the group expands its endorsements in local school board races, she draws encouragement from Florida’s recent primary, where 60% of candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty advanced to the general elections this fall. Some of these hopefuls are running for office for the very first time, signifying an inspiring development.
However, deterring this positive trajectory are undeniable setbacks faced by the group. Examples include losses in heavily Republican Sarasota County and Pinellas County, where a candidate with Moms for Liberty’s endorsement had won a seat on the school board in the last election cycle. This follows the struggle conservative candidates experienced in securing voter support in the previous fall’s local school board elections across the country, wherein Moms for Liberty reported only 40% victory of their endorsed candidates.
Jonathan Collins, a director of the politics and education program at Columbia University’s Teachers College, suggested that the complex challenges faced by these candidates advocating for parental rights might be due to their primary focus on vetoing existing policies and academic materials, instead of generating an innovative, forward-thinking action plan to effectively handle the academic setbacks caused by the pandemic. He added that the competition is not primarily from those who counter their cultural critiques with their personal cultural stances, but from those with actionable, relevant ideas of school and district improvement.
Nationwide, there have been instances where school board members endorsed by Moms for Liberty or those following the collective’s agenda have been subjected to recall due to community members accusing their policies of disruptive effects. For instance, in Woodland, California, a board member who held the support of Moms for Liberty was recalled in March, following her controversial statement during a school board meeting the previous year about children identifying as transgender.
Similarly, in Southern California, a trustee of the Temecula Valley Unified School District Board of Education faced a recall subsequent to voting against a social studies curriculum due to its inclusion of a history of the gay rights movement. In Idaho’s heavily Republican region, community members, covering diverse political views, led a successful recall of two right-wing board members last year, who had previously attempted to eliminate critical race theory and implement a conservative agenda.
Katie Blaxberg, running against the remaining Moms for Liberty-backed candidate in the upcoming school board election in Pinellas County, criticized the group’s ‘divisiveness’ and ‘nastiness’, claiming it thwarted effective work. Nevertheless, over 600 supporters of Moms for Liberty, who had gathered in Washington, painted a different narrative. Listening attentively to presentations and sharing contact details, they collectively showed that diversity of opinion is not just desirable but necessary to effect change.
Gretchen Schmid, the chair of a Moms for Liberty chapter in Orange County, North Carolina, proudly shared that her chapter facilitated the passing of new parents’ bill of rights legislation in her state. Despite the Democratic governor’s veto, the bill prevailed last year, due to the overriding power of the Legislature, which is drawn heavily in favor of Republicans. Schmid offered a contrast of the situation, stating that previously when parents attempted to gain information about school assignments, their requests were largely ignored, but with the law in place, their inquiries have been better addressed.
Demonstrating their resolve for children’s rights, Moms for Liberty arranged a peaceful demonstration on the sidelines of their four-day summit. Led by a coalition of conservative groups, Rachel Mack and Sarah Recupero, donning eye-catching yellow rhinestone visors, drove from Florida to voice their support, particularly for preserving the traditional boundaries of gender in sports. They championed the principle of maintaining separate competitions for each sex, underlining the constituents’ shared belief in preserving traditional ideals.
Away from the Moms for Liberty event, an alternate group advocating for a more inclusive environment for children held a simultaneous event—a Celebration of Reading. A strong supporter of this group, Heidi Ross from Buckeye, Arizona, used her social media influence to mobilize others for this cause. She shared her personal motivation, which is her two-year-old granddaughter. Ross stated that she aims to ensure her granddaughter grows up in a world where she can freely read any book she wants, without anyone causing a nuisance or creating unnecessary controversy. Ross believes in the importance of preserving the innocence of childhood and maintaining a free, open-minded society.
All said and done, results have proven that both alignments have had their wins and losses, painting a genuine picture of the bifurcated political landscape we navigate. It’s a testament to the unique character of democracy, where collective unity and union of different voices make the decisions. While the country awaits the results of the impending elections, the narrative built from Moms for Liberty supporters, their opposition, and those in between illustrates the diversity of parent-focused interests in the political sphere.
The above recounts the political climate as it stands, with the contrasting perspectives manifesting in the actions of groups like Moms for Liberty and their counterparts. However, responsibility for the content produced here rests solely with the AI delivering the information.