Randi Weingarten

Because the surest path is educational and economic opportunity

Candidates’ words convey their values and vision, who they are, and what kind of leaders they would be. Donald Trump says that he will be his supporters’ “retribution” and a “dictator” on day one. Kamala Harris says she fights for “freedom, opportunity, and the promise of America”—for everyone. That’s my kind of leader.

Harris and Tim Walz know that the surest path to “not just get by, but to get ahead” is through educational and economic opportunity. Their policy ideas will make that real: universal pre-K, well-resourced public schools that create pathways to good jobs, and affordable college. They’ll sign the PRO Act, making it easier for workers to organize and collectively bargain. They’ll reduce taxes for working families, build housing, and take on price gouging to lower the costs we pay. They know that crowd size is not the measure of success; it’s making sure all Americans share in our country’s success. 

Compare that to the extremist plans in Project 2025 for a second Trump term that would threaten public education, access to health care, climate action, and the American idea itself. 

Harris and Walz want to make our lives better. They know that you don’t have to give birth to a child to be pro-child. Being pro-child and pro-family means working to ensure all children and families can access high-quality, affordable health care when they need it. It means believing college should not be a “debt sentence.” 

Harris and Walz will support public education, so that what we do in our best schools, we can do in all our schools—in small towns, in our biggest cities, and everywhere in between. They understand the harm of defunding and destabilizing public schools through private school vouchers. They know why we have public schools, and what we would lose if extremists and privatizers got their way.

Trump and JD Vance wouldn’t do well in my classes if they were as unkind, unserious, and ungrounded in facts and demeanor as they are on the campaign trail. Despite Trump’s endless lies, we have no choice but to believe he would carry out his authoritarian policy ideas. He is not a blowhard mouthing off; he is a danger to democracy and to millions of Americans. Does anyone doubt, given a choice between what’s good for him or what’s good for the country, what Trump would choose? If your answer is the same as mine, this election is the most important not only in our lifetimes, but in our children’s and grandchildren’s lifetimes.

Voting is our best defense against tyranny and fascism. And it’s our best offense to create that better future we dream of. I hope you will join me in voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, representing workers in education, health care, and public service.