The Black Alliance for Educational Options Action Fund showed its strength on the state level this weekend, with endorsed candidates winning in the group’s first foray into electoral politics.
The candidates, endorsed by the BAEO Action Fund, were running for the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Jada Lewis won 52 percent of the vote in her district, while Kira Orange Jones won 69 percent of the vote in hers. Both Lewis and Orange Jones are Democrats, and both had only one other candidate running against them. Orange Jones is an incumbent.
“Both Lewis and Orange Jones are staunch advocates for parental choice and unwavering supporters of increasing access to high-quality educational options for low-income and working-class Black families in Louisiana,” the BAEO Action Fund Board of Directors wrote in a press release. “With the changing tide of education in Louisiana, Kira and Jada will continue to fight for educational excellence in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.”
Eight of the 11 board members are elected, with the other three members appointed by the new governor. That race is headed to a runoff election between John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and former United States Senator David Vitter, a Republican. Bel Edwards received 40 percent of the vote in the general election to Vitter’s 23 percent, but Republicans combined for 57 percent of the vote.
The BAEO Action Fund was launched a few months ago and is already looking at how to get involved in 2016, Board Chair Howard Fuller said. “We intend to be fierce and unapologetic advocates for politicians that share our values, and we will fight tooth and nail to ensure education reform isn’t happening to the Black community, but instead with the Black community.”
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
