“A federal political action committee that targeted Kansas school board races two years ago to elect candidates opposed to critical race theory is back with more money than it had in 2021.
“The 1776 Project PAC is endorsing 13 candidates in Kansas, four running for the Blue Valley School Board, two running for the Lansing School Board, four running for the Chanute School Board and three running for seats on the Baldwin City School Board…
“This year, the PAC raised about $91,000 from Florida, more than any other state, according to federal campaign finance data.
“It raised about $49,400 from Texas and about $45,000 from California.
“It raised about $3,000 in Kansas, including $1,000 each from Timothy Helton, a retiree from Leawood, and McDowell Steel of Salina…
“Already, local parent groups are girding for a fight with the 1776 PAC similar to their efforts in 2021 when eight of 13 candidates backed by the group were elected in the Blue Valley, Olathe, Lansing and Andover school districts…
“Now looking ahead this year, Stand Up Blue Valley says it is working to educate voters about what a ‘hostile school board takeover by outsiders’ would mean for schools.
“’Their obnoxious, not Kansas-like, attempt to inject chaos and culture wars into our state’s No. 1 school district may work if voters don’t turn out in overwhelming numbers to protect our community’s most valuable asset: our award-winning public schools.’
“Four candidates backed by the 1776 group are running for the Blue Valley school board. None of them – Michael Huebner, Christine Vasquez, Trisha Hamilton and Rachel Faagutu – returned calls for this story…
“Game On for Kansas Schools, meanwhile, criticized the group’s influence in the upcoming school board elections.
“’Blue Valley, Lansing, Chanute and Baldwin City, extremists are trying to take over your school boards,’ the group posted on Facebook.
“’The Project 1776 PAC, a national PAC led by a guy in New York City, is sticking its nose and its dark money into your district,’ the group said.
“’Don’t let them con your neighbors with political fear mongering, and don’t let them buy your school board,’ it wrote.
“The 1776 PAC claimed a big victory in Lansing where the three of its candidates were elected in 2021 and eventually passed a parents bill of rights.”
Originally posted on Facebook on Sept. 11, 2023.