KY teachers PAC donated to conservative group to try to influence GOP primaries

The Jefferson County Teachers Association’s PAC donated $200,000 to a pro-Republican PAC in the May primary. Now, the same conservative PAC is running attack ads against candidates endorsed by the teachers union. 

Federal Election Commission records show JCTA’s PAC, Better Schools Kentucky, donated the funds to the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition on April 1, ahead of Kentucky’s primary elections. Other donations to the coalition at the time included $250,000 from GOPAC Election Fund and $140,000 from the Kentucky Chamber Advocacy Committee, two PACs that generally support conservative causes

Months later, the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition is behind ads against Democratic candidates endorsed by Better Schools Kentucky for the state legislature. Kentucky Registry of Election Finance records show the coalition spent about $27,250 on ads against Suhas Kulkanri in the 48th House District and about $101,400 on ads against Tim Hall in the 31st House District. 

Commonwealth Conservative Coalition has also spent money against other Democrats this general election cycle, such as about $63,500 in ads against incumbent Rep. Adam Moore in the 45th House District, about $22,800 against Johnny Ray Turner in the 95th House District and $40,000 against Sarah Cole McIntosh in the 36th House District. 

Better Schools Kentucky also gave the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition $200,000 ahead of the 2024 primary, according to the FEC. 

Responding to questions from the Kentucky Lantern, Devyn Melvin, JCTA’s communications director, said in an email Better Schools Kentucky “is a non-partisan, teacher-led organization that is public-education focused and teacher focused.”

The General Assembly has had a Republican supermajority for several years. Melvin said the JCTA PAC was trying to support the candidates in Republican primaries that would be the most pro-public education.

“BSK has not made any contributions in the general election. BSK has made contributions to SuperPACS in the primaries in order to elect pro-public education candidates,” the statement said. “We support candidates who have a record of standing up for public education.”

According to KREF records, Commonwealth Conservative Coalition spent about $370,000 on ads supporting and opposing candidates in Republican primaries across the state this year. Some of those included backing incumbents like Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser in the 64th House District, Rep. Deanna Frazier Gordon in the 81st and Rep. Kim Banta in the 63rd. Banta ultimately lost her primary. In the general election so far, the coalition has spent more than $254,000.

BSK added that it hasn’t made “contributions to SuperPACs in the general election” and is focusing on school board candidates. 

“Teachers look forward to working with anyone who will support public education and stand by the people who educate our kids- teachers,” the statement said. 

Don Parkinson, who is listed as the treasurer for the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition on the FEC’s site, did not return emails and phone calls seeking comment. 

Jason Perkey, a senior adviser for Hall, questioned why JCTA’s PAC gave money to a group that ultimately spent it on races outside of Jefferson County. Regardless if JCTA’s money was spent during the primary or the general election by the second PAC, it was still donated to the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition, he added. Some of the candidates supported, like Moser and Gordon, voted in favor of a 2024 constitutional amendment that would have allowed the General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools, which JCTA opposed. The amendment failed to pass that fall. 

“I think the overarching argument about investing in races that will impact their membership and students across Kentucky is the right intention, but they could have found an organization that was trying to elect people who want the best for our public schools, teachers and students,” Perkey said. 

Perkey added that Hall is “very grateful and honored to have the support from the JCTA” and teachers in Jefferson County. Hall is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Susan Tyler Witten. 

Kulkarni said in a statement to the Lantern that while the campaign has been supported by teachers, it was “no surprise that corporations and special interests are pouring money” into support for the incumbent he is facing, Republican Rep. Ken Fleming. Churchill Downs and data center developers, are among those special interests.

“We believe this is exactly what’s wrong with Frankfort: a system of pay-to-play politics where corporations get the tax breaks, Ken gets the campaign contributions, and working families and small businesses pay the price,” Kulkarni continued. “We believe voters are seeing through these schemes. The enthusiasm pouring into our campaign has been tremendous, and we feel very good about the support we’re receiving.”

State law prevents any candidate from coordinating with PACs. Kentucky’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. 

This story has been updated with additional information.