Republican State Rep. Brian Lohse touted the endorsement he received from the Iowa State Education Association. ISEA has advocated for pornographic materials in school libraries, against Education Savings Accounts, against protecting women’s sports, against expanding school choice, against a proposed law stating bathrooms must be used according to biological sex and against parental involvement in education.
“In 2021, the Iowa State Education Association made a concerted effort to reach out to Republican legislators to open a dialogue about issues affecting teachers,” he wrote. “It has always been my practice to listen. Also, being the son of a lifelong teacher and representing three great school districts, it was important to me to be open to that conversation. While we do not always agree, the discourse has been respectful and productive, finding areas of agreement and working to make legislation better.”
ISEA President Mike Beranek, who has made it a practice to attack conservative Republicans advocating for parental rights in education, said ISEA is pleased to recommend Lohse for Iowa House.
“We believe Representative Lohse will do what is best for all of Iowa’s students regardless of the ZIP code in which they live and be a voice for education professionals as important decisions are made that impact our students and our public schools.”
Lohse said he is “honored” to have the endorsement from the left-wing group.
ISEA also endorsed Democrat Deidre DeJear for Governor. ISEA also was the core trainings sponsor of Emerge Iowa, which has a mission to increase the number of Democrat women leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office.
In 2020, ISEA contributed $615,000 to the Iowa Democrat Party.
Republican legislators who gave the endorsement a “thumbs up” on Facebook include Dustin Hite (who lost his primary election in June) and Megan Jones. Former Democrat State Rep. Karin Derry also liked the post.
