Charter backers outspend teachers in 2 California races

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Charter school advocates are far outpacing teachers unions in spending to support candidates for California governor and state schools chief.

Wealthy donors who support charter schools and education reform have poured more than $22 million into independent committees to support former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for governor and former schools executive Marshall Tuck for state schools chief. Teachers unions have dropped about $4 million on committees to back Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for governor and Tony Thurmond for superintendent.

All four men are Democrats who want more money for public schools. But they differ on state officials’ role in improving schools and how to handle nonprofit charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded but typically run independently of the traditional public school system.