Today is the last day Education Minnesota union members can request a refund of the political action committee (PAC) contribution that gets automatically charged to them each year. PAC money is funneled to political parties, candidates, and other political funds that echo union leadership’s ideology. This risks alienating members who don’t share the union’s political views.
Instead of allowing teacher members to opt in to the PAC contribution, they have to request a refund of these dollars every year. This year, the union increased its annual PAC assessment, and time will tell how much gets spent trying to influence 2026 elections. The union’s 2024 PAC report recorded just under $3 million in political expenditures.
PAC refund request forms are available in the union’s magazine Minnesota Educator and must be filled out and signed. Given that Education Minnesota says it must receive the form by Oct. 31, teacher members should plan on dropping the form off at the union’s office today to make sure their request is honored.
Education Minnesota
41 Sherburne Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103
