Recap on the 2024 U.S. Election: Next Steps

By Zachary Keita, NAfME Public Policy and Advocacy Communications Manager

On November 5, the last ballots in the 2024 general elections were cast following many early voting efforts, determining new leadership in Congress, governors’ mansions, many localities, and the White House. While a few U.S. House races remain uncalled, we are able to begin determining the makeup of the 119th Congress, the White House, and how that may impact arts education.

Federal Elections
During the 2024 general elections, all 435 members of the U.S. House and 33 out of 100 members of the U.S. Senate were up for re-election. For context, control of the 118th Congress was split, with Democrats having a majority in the Senate and Republicans holding a majority in the House. Following the general election, Republicans will gain full control of the 119th Congress, with a majority in both the House (218 Republicans-209 Democrats) and Senate (53 Republicans-47 Democrats). In addition to a majority in Congress, the Republican nominee Donald J. Trump will serve as the 47th President of the United States.

The final makeup of the 119th Congress has yet to be determined, as several House races are still being tallied, but with Republicans gaining a majority in both chambers of Congress, leadership of House and Senate committees will be turned over to the GOP. Below, you’ll find the expected outcomes of Senate and House Committee leadership elections.

Expected Senate Committee Leadership (Education Committee in bold):

Expected House Leadership (Education Committee in Bold)

Congressional Education Committees
Both Committees handling education policy in Congress (Senate: HELP, House: Education and the Workforce) are set to receive new leadership in the 119th Congress. The Senate HELP Committee will now be under Republican leadership and will be chaired by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Senator Cassidy is a former gastroenterologist and is expected to focus his attention on health policy but has expressed an interest in advancing a “Pro-America agenda” across policy areas covered by the Senate HELP Committee.

In the House, a chair for the Education and the Workforce Committee has yet to be determined. The current lead Republican on the committee, Virginia Foxx (NC-05), is term limited from chairing the committee again and is expected to be succeeded by Representative Burgess Owens (UT-04) or Tim Walberg (MI-05). Both potential chairs of the House Education and the Workforce Committee have expressed an interest in advancing legislation around expanding “school choice” for parents. In addition to his stance on school choice, Representative Owens has been a vocal critic of DEIA initiatives in schools during his tenure on the committee.

U.S. Department of Education
With the selection of a new administration during the general elections, the incoming President appoints members to their executive cabinet who oversee executive agencies and advance the President’s policy priorities in any given issue area. The U.S. Department of Education, being an executive agency, will be under new leadership once President Trump takes office. The current nomination for U.S. Secretary of Education is Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). McMahon previously served in President Trump’s first administration, leading the Small Business Administration. McMahon’s experience in the education space includes having received a teaching certification and serving on Connecticut’s State Board of Education for roughly one year. In addition to her experience working with schools, McMahon most recently served as the board chair of the America First Policy Institute, where she advocated for expanding parents’ rights and school choice. While her nomination still needs to be confirmed by the Senate, it is expected that Linda McMahon will take up the mantle of U.S. Secretary of Education once the 119th Congress is sworn in.

While Republicans will not have majority control of Congress until the 119th session is sworn in on January 3, the Senate HELP Committee has already begun working to advance Republican education priorities. On November 21, Senator Mike Rounds introduced the Returning Education to our States Act (S.5384), which if passed, would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute its programs to one of several executive agencies. S.5384 serves as a marker bill in the 118th Congress, as it has virtually no chance of passing the currently Democrat-controlled Senate. Even as Republicans take control in the 119th Congress, this bill would be unlikely to pass, as it would require 60 Senate votes rather than a simple majority.

State Elections
While federal elections determine who will be on the national stage advocating for education policy, state elections play an equally important role, as they determine who will be shaping education policy at the state level. During this year’s general elections, voters across the country cast their ballots for their state’s governor. The governor plays an important role in state education policy, as they appoint members to the state board of education and other key roles within the state’s education framework. Of the 11 states voting for governor, three re-elected their incumbent (individual currently serving in the position), while voters from eight states elected a new candidate.

Newly elected Governors

State Boards of Education
The newly elected governors in Delaware, Indiana, and New Hampshire all have the power to appoint the chief state school officer, while all new governors, besides Utah’s, have the power to appoint at least one member to their respective state boards of education. Additionally, nine states and the District of Columbia held elections for a combined 41 seats on state boards of education. Of the 41 seats available, 24 went to new members, meaning this incoming class of education board members are predominantly new to their role. The chart below includes the total number of available seats and how many went to a new member in each state.

State Legislative Elections
Forty-four states held elections in 85 out of 99 legislative chambers this November. Like federal elections, there are still a few races yet to be called, so the exact makeup of state legislatures remain unknown just yet. So far, the Michigan and Minnesota houses are the only chambers set to change party leadership, with Republicans gaining control in Michigan and earning a tie in Minnesota. Counting the gains made by Republicans, the GOP now controls 57 state legislatures to the 39 controlled by Democrats.

The 2024 general elections have set the stage for significant shifts in both federal and state governance, with potential impacts on education policy nationwide. The newly formed 119th Congress, under Republican control in both chambers, along with President Donald J. Trump’s administration, will influence the federal education landscape through legislative and funding decisions that could shape priorities for years to come. On the state level, newly elected governors, board members, and state legislators will steer local education policies, potentially driving varied approaches across states.

With the 119th Congress set to be sworn in this coming January, The Arts Education Alliance will continue to pursue its mission of advocating for equitable access to arts education for all students. A new Congress provides us with newfound opportunities to educate and engage members and their staff on the importance of arts education and the need for continued funding for key federal programs. Stay tuned to learn more about the 119th Congress, our federal priorities, and opportunities for you to advocate for arts education.