GOP House Candidate Ron Robinson Endorsed by DeVos-Funded Group That Backs School Vouchers
Democratic incumbent Rep. Nate Shannon is running for reelection for House District 58. Rep. Shannon is a former public school teacher who was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2018.
According to Rep. Shannon, “As a former public school teacher, public education is one of my top priorities, and it’s why I initially decided to run for State Representative.” Rep. Shannon says that “[t]o help our kids succeed in the 21st century economy, every student should have a caring, qualified and committed teacher. We also need to prioritize education funding that allows educators more time to connect one-on-one with students to encourage critical thinking and creativity.”
Rep. Shannon introduced legislation to remove a retention requirement that would have made students less likely to graduate high school. He also voted for SB 173, which according to Bridge MI, “includes a 5 percent increase in the school ‘foundation allowance,’ which is the base amount schools receive per student from the state. School districts will receive $9,608 for each student in the 2023-24 school year, an increase of $458.”
Challenging Rep. Shannon in November is Republican nominee Ron Robinson.
Robinson says he “will support legislation that allows parents to ask questions and get answers from their child's teachers and school administration. I will fight to expand parent rights and try to lift some of the restrictions on parents and their rights as parents.”
According to his campaign website, “[m]any parents need to fight to access the curriculum and books presented in schools. Parents should have choices in where their student goes to school and have a say in what information is being given to their child.”
Robinson has said he is “very honored” to be endorsed by the Great Lakes Education Project, an organization founded by Betsy DeVos that supports candidates who advocate for policies such as parental/school choice and voucher systems.