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American Federation of Teachers

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American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers.JPG
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:501(c)(5)
Top official:Randi Weingarten, President
Year founded:1916
Website:Official website

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit organization. It is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO labor union representing current and retired teachers and other school staff.[1]

Background

Eight local teacher unions joined together to found the American Federation of Teachers as an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1916.[2] As of September 2025, the organization's mission was:[3]

“

The AFT is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.[4]

”

Leadership

As of September 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the American Federation of Teachers:[5]

  • Randi Weingarten, president
  • Fedrick C. Ingram, secretary-treasurer
  • Evelyn DeJesus, executive vice president
  • J. Philippe Abraham, vice president
  • Frederick R. Albert, vice president
  • Jackie Anderson, vice president
  • LeRoy Barr, vice president
  • Victor M. Bonilla Sánchez, vice president
  • Vicky Rae Byrd, vice president
  • Zeph Capo, vice president
  • Larry J. Carter, Jr., vice president
  • Kathy A. Chavez, vice president
  • Jaime L. Ciffone, vice president
  • Melissa Cropper, vice president
  • Amanda Curtis, vice president
  • Stacy Davis Gates, vice president
  • James C. Davis, vice president
  • GlenEva Dunham, vice president
  • Christian Fern, vice president
  • Francis J. Flynn, vice president
  • Jeffery M. Freitas, vice president
  • Ron Gross, vice president
  • Anthony M. Harmon, vice president
  • Karla Hernández-Mats, vice president
  • Jan Hochadel, vice president
  • David M. Keepnews, vice president
  • Frederick E. Kowal, vice president
  • Terrence Martin, Sr., vice president
  • Kara McCormick-Lyons, vice president
  • Daniel J. Montgomery, vice president
  • Michael Mulgrew, vice president
  • Cecily A. Myart-Cruz, vice president
  • Shari Obrenski, vice president
  • Melinda Parson, vice president
  • Juan Ramirez, vice president
  • Andrew Spar, vice president
  • Denise Specht, vice president
  • Wayne Spence, vice president
  • Arthur G. Steinberg, vice president
  • Jessica J. Tang, vice president
  • Adam Urbanski, vice president
  • Debbie White, RN, vice president
  • Carl Williams, vice president
  • Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, vice president
  • Sarah Wolford, vice president
  • Todd Wolfson, vice president
  • Edward J. McElroy, president emeritus
  • Lorretta Johnson, secretary-treasurer emerita

Work and activities

Electoral activities and influence

2014 elections

According to OpenSecrets.org, the American Federation of Teachers spent $19,499,848 in the 2014 election cycle.[6]

Endorsed candidates

In the 2014 election cycle, the American Federation of Teachers supported the following candidates:[6]

Expenditures
Top 5 largest American Federation of Teachers expenditures in 2012[7]
Candidate Party State Office For Against Total Desired Result
Julia Brownley Democratic Party CA House $20,000 $0 $20,000
Yes.png
Ed Markey Democratic Party MA Senate $19,563 $0 $20,000
Yes.png
Donald Norcross Democratic Party NJ House $15,500 $0 $20,000
Yes.png
Natalie Tennant Democratic Party WV Senate $15,250 $0 $15,500
No.png
Ron Barber Democratic Party AZ House $15,250 $0 $15,000
No.png

2012 elections

According to OpenSecrets.org, the American Federation of Teachers spent $8,578,462 in the 2012 election cycle.[8]

Endorsed candidates

In the 2012 election cycle, the American Federation of Teachers supported the following candidates:[8]

Expenditures
Top 5 largest American Federation of Teachers expenditures in 2012
Candidate Party State Office For Against Total Desired Result
Ron Barber Democratic Party AZ House $20,000 $0 $20,000
Yes.png
Barack Obama Democratic Party N/A President $19,563 $0 $19,563
Yes.png
Tammy Duckworth Democratic Party IL House $15,500 $0 $15,500
Yes.png
Sherrod Brown Democratic Party OH Senate $15,250 $0 $15,250
Yes.png
Bob Casey Democratic Party PA Senate $15,250 $0 $15,250
Yes.png

Ballot measures

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by American Federation of Teachers
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Kamala D. Harris  source  (D, Working Families Party) President of the United States (2024) PrimaryLost General
Lateefah Simon  source  (D) U.S. House California District 12 (2024) PrimaryWon General
Notable ballot measure endorsements by American Federation of Teachers
MeasurePositionOutcome
California Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative (2020)  source SupportDefeated
California Proposition 27, Elimination of Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2010)  source SupportDefeated
Colorado Proposition 113, National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Referendum (2020)  source SupportApproved
Colorado Proposition 119, Creation of Out-of-School Education Program and Marijuana Sales Tax Increase Initiative (2021)  source OpposeDefeated
Colorado Proposition KK, Excise Tax on Firearms Dealers, Manufacturers, and Ammunition Vendors Measure (2024)  source SupportApproved
Illinois Allow for Graduated Income Tax Amendment (2020)  source SupportDefeated
Massachusetts Question 1, Tax on Income Above $1 Million for Education and Transportation Amendment (2022)  source SupportApproved
Ohio Issue 1, Establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2024)  source SupportDefeated

Finances

The following is a breakdown of the American Federation of Teachers' revenues and expenses from 2004 to 2024. The information comes from ProPublica.

American Federation of Teachers financial data 2004-2024
Year Revenue Expenses
2004 $132.4 million $128.5 million
2005 $134.4 million $137.0 million
2006 $138.7 million $141.2 million
2007 $147.0 million $152.9 million
2008 $159.9 million $152.6 million
2009 $165.8 million $169.6 million
2010 $173.0 million $169.9 million
2011 $176.3 million $189.4 million
2012 $178.3 million $182.9 million
2013 $179.8 million $181.1 million
2014 $188.0 million $195.6 million
2015 $191.5 million $202.5 million
2016 $199.9 million $203.3 million
2017 $201.0 million $209.4 million
2018 $229.2 million $192.2 million
2019 $204.5 million $197.4 million
2020 $205.3 million $196.0 million
2021 $207.2 million $196.1 million
2022 $206.0 million $190.4 million
2023 $211.0 million $220.2 million
2024 $218.1 million $221.6 million

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "About Us," accessed September 19, 2025
  2. ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "History," accessed September 19, 2025
  3. ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "Mission," accessed September 19, 2025
  4. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "AFT Leadership," accessed September 19, 2025
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Open Secrets, "American Federation of Teachers," accessed May 14, 2015
  7. ↑ Open Secrets, "American Federation of Teachers," accessed May 14, 2015
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Open Secrets, "American Federation of Teachers," accessed December 16, 2013
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