Trevis Harrold, Democratic candidate for House District 55, lists “investing in education” as one of his campaign priorities. According to his campaign website, Harrold states that “I will fight to protect our students and ensure they continue to receive top-notch education from qualified, well-compensated professional teachers so they can start the businesses of tomorrow. I will work to fund our schools so teachers have the resources they need, stop the disgusting attacks on our teachers coming from Lansing, and make more counselors and mental health resources available to our students.”

Harrold expands upon his belief in the value of public schools, stating, “In Michigan, public schools anchor our communities; as they go, so does the future of our towns and cities. Thriving public schools require skilled, committed teachers, and I will continue fighting to ensure they get the respect and support they have earned. Educational innovation is essential for equity, especially in underserved communities. Trade schools are also crucial for the resurgence of industry and support the emphasis on small business and community support.”

Harrold’s Republican opponent is incumbent Mark Tisdel. Rep. Tisdel has been endorsed for re-election by the Great Lakes Education Project, which, according to the Detroit Free Press, is “a school choice advocacy group founded by Betsy DeVos.” The organization has also donated money to Rep. Tisdel’s campaigns in the past. 

The Great Lakes Education Project supported a voucher ballot initiative that would have taken funding away from traditional public schools in Michigan. Support for school vouchers is a position broadly supported by national Republicans. In July, the GOP adopted a platform at their national convention in Milwaukee that includes “universal school choice,” which opponents believe is “a thinly veiled blueprint for gutting public education.”