Child care and pre-K measures won big in midterms

The “blue wave” that swept Democrats into office across the country was accompanied by notable wins on measures that would provide additional funding for child care and prekindergarten. Several newly elected officials made early childhood a central part of their campaigns. In Maine, Gov.-elect Hannah Pingree campaigned on universal child care and boosting pay for early educators. Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms also made mandatory kindergarten and expansion of the state’s pre-K program part of her election pitch. David Crowley, who will be the new governor of Wisconsin, has called for expanding the state’s child care subsidy program so that it covers all children ages 5 or younger. In South Carolina, Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, is heading to the Senate after making access to child care a platform priority. And in Minnesota, Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan has called for an expansion to the federal Head Start program for low-income children and for universal pre-K.

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