All the Baltimore school board candidates are Democrats. How far left do they get?

Baltimore voters resoundingly rejected the sole self-identified Republican running for a spot on their school board in the June primaries.

The remaining candidates for the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners all skew blue, but “blue is a spectrum,” said incumbent school board member Ashley “Ash” Esposito.

School board races are officially nonpartisan. But as Esposito and other candidates noted, education is inherently political, especially in a place as historically underfunded and racially segregated as Charm City. And in Baltimore, there’s a different kind of politics at play: Only two of the adult school board members are elected, meaning they have to answer to the voters if they want their seats back. The rest are appointed.

There are four candidates for the Baltimore school board, and the two with the most votes win the race. Here’s what to know about their politics.

Incumbents

Ashley “Ash” Esposito

Endorsements: Baltimore Teachers Union; Charm City Indivisible; Metropolitan Baltimore Council of AFL-CIO Unions; Progressive Maryland; 3.14 Action; American Federation of Teachers Maryland; EducateUS; Greater Baltimore Democratic Socialists of America; Unite Against Book Bans; Advocates for Trans Equity; Baltimore Baby Fund; Moms Demand Action - Gun Sense Candidate; Democratic Municipal Officials; Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence; Sierra Club, according to Esposito’s campaign website.

Campaign contributions: Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO; Friends of John Bullock; Citizens for Raaheela Ahmed; Friends of Mark Parker; Citizens for Bill Ferguson; Leadership for Educational Equity Maryland PAC; Vote Mama Foundation; EducateUS; 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers union

In her words: Esposito said she would describe her politics as “blue-green” — she identifies with the Green Party’s focus on the environment and politics reform, but affiliates with the Democratic Party. She considers herself a Democratic socialist and once held a leadership position with the Greater Baltimore Democratic Socialists of America, she said. Esposito said she’s focused on supporting working-class families, along with empowering students with disabilities, foster care youth, students learning English and students experiencing homelessness.

Kwame’ Jamal Kenyatta-Bey

Endorsements: State Sen. Antonio Hayes

Campaign contributions: None

In his words: Kenyatta-Bey said he once told his father he wanted to be a politician, and his father told him to instead be a statesman because that transcends party affiliation.

The incumbent school commissioner said his political philosophy centers what his community wants and needs: “That has been really a very big push of mine, making sure that people are not forgotten,” he said.

A longtime theater veteran, Kenyatta-Bey likes to focus on how the arts bring people together.

Challengers

Jamar Day

Endorsements: Gov. Wes Moore; former Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young; SEIU Healthcare 11199NE, New Englands’ largest healthcare workers union; LGBTQ+ Victory Fund; Baltimore Baby Fund; Sierra Club of Maryland; Run For Something, according to Day’s campaign website.

Campaign contributions: 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers union

In his words: Day, who previously ran for a spot on the Baltimore City Council, described himself as a progressive Democrat, adding that he doesn’t think progressive is a “dirty word.”

“I think we need to make sure we’re innovating,” he said.

Day said healthcare, fair wages and housing are the issues most important to him. And on the school board, he would find solutions to unreliable transit options for students and guarantee benefits like extra planning time for teachers.

Domonique Flowers

Endorsements: Moms Demand Action - Gun Sense Candidate; Charm City Indivisible, according to Flowers’ campaign website.

Campaign contributions: None reported

In his words: Flowers said he identifies with “moderate liberalism.” He’s focused on equitably funding schools and drilling down on issues like juvenile crime. A former special education attorney, Flowers wants to make sure current special education services are properly funded.

Banner reporter Allan James Vestal contributed to this story.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.