Union-linked political committee has reported hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions since 2022.
A political committee tied to the Capistrano Unified Education Association amassed a six-figure campaign reserve and reported contributions benefiting candidates in all three Capistrano Unified School District board races on the November ballot, records reviewed as of September 19 show, as the teachers union seeks to elect candidates it considers friendly to educators.
The Orange County Registrar of Voters lists Trustee Areas 4, 6 and 7 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The union-linked Help Organize for Public Education committee, known as HOPE, states its electoral mission directly in federal filings.
“To promote the election of friendly candidates to school board to teachers of the Capistrano Unified School District,” the organization said.
Campaign-finance records show HOPE-CUEA reported late contributions to Melissa Caldwell in Trustee Area 4, Jeanna Emmons in Trustee Area 6 and Ron Ruef in Trustee Area 7.
The contributions appear in filings compiled for the Area 4 race, Area 6 race and Area 7 race.
The PAC’s financial footprint extends beyond this year.
Federal filing data compiled by ProPublica show nearly $640,000 in electronically reported contributions since 2022, although the database cautions that overlapping filings may duplicate some amounts.
Two variations of CUEA’s name account for more than $400,000 in listed contributions, while the California Teachers Association’s political arm accounts for about $113,000. In 2026 alone, HOPE reported $56,583 in contributions through June.
The California Teachers Association previously highlighted CUEA’s political operation following the 2022 election, saying the chapter used CTA political funding for mailers and social media and mobilized nearly 400 volunteers. CTA’s account of the campaign said the effort helped union-backed candidates capture a majority of the races CUEA targeted.
“Chapter-endorsed candidates won three out of four school board seats,” CTA said.
