(The Lion) — A June 2025 study from Brown University’s Annenberg Institute found about half of school board races from 16 states were uncontested, leaving voters no alternative candidates to choose from.
When incumbent board members choose to run for re-election, they win 80% of the time.
But half the time incumbents don’t run for re-election. The study reported 53% of incumbents departing in the average election, most of whom are voluntarily retiring.
In an ideal world, voters would elect the school board candidate who most aligns with their values or preferred policies and then re-elect or replace candidates based on their performance, the report argues.
Researchers called this version of accountability “retrospective voting.”
However, the process breaks down “if voters lack candidate options and incumbents face minimal risk of losing the next election.”
“Contestation and competition play a critical role in retrospective voting, as the threat of losing elected office is thought to be the primary incentive for elected officials to be faithful to the interests and preferences of their constituents,” researchers wrote.
Overall, the lack of competitive elections means voters have little influence over those running their local school district. High board member turnover rates also decrease opportunities to hold anyone accountable for poor performance.
Districts with high turnover rates suffer other problems, such as:
- High turnover in other school leadership positions, such as superintendent;
- Frequently changing curriculum;
- Poor academic outcomes for students;
- Less experienced school board members;
- Too much power defaulted to unelected school staff or special interest groups such as teachers’ unions.
However, conservative associations have begun focusing on systemic reform after the COVID-19 pandemic focused national attention on school boards. Moms for Liberty, for example, advocates for parental rights and equips school board candidates to campaign successfully. It endorsed over 500 candidates in 2022, with 75% being first-time contestants.
