ALBANY, N.Y. (November 4, 2026) — In response to the 2026 midterm election results, public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement from Co-Executive Directors, Marina Marcou-O’Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari:
“Last night voters across New York and the nation rejected an agenda that protects billionaire fortunes while asking working families to live with less. Victories here in New York, including wins in Congress and in the State Legislature by numerous candidates endorsed by the Working Families Party and many of AQE’s allies, add new strength to the movement to make New York a state that puts children and families first, and taxes the ultra-rich.
“The Working Families Party’s growing support gives working people more power to set the agenda and turn our demands into public policy. We congratulate the party on winning not only enough votes to maintain its ballot line, but more than enough to also move up to Row C on New York’s ballot in the next election.
“We also celebrate Adrienne Adams’ historic election as New York’s first Black woman elected lieutenant governor. We look forward to building on our shared history and pushing for more education justice together in Albany.
“We must now establish a universal child care system that is free for all and provides educators with thriving wages. We must also provide public schools with the resources to meet students’ needs and address generational inequities by updating our funding formula. With these solutions in reach, there is no excuse for inaction on the issues that matter most to New York’s families and children.
“Candidates who campaigned on affordability must now deliver by making the public investments New Yorkers need in child care, public education and more, and paying for them with higher taxes on the ultra-rich. As we celebrate last night’s wins, we keep organizing today for the future we want tomorrow.”