Teachers unions spend, lose big on midterm elections

Teachers unions spent big on the midterm elections and lost big -- dropping as much as $80 million on mostly Democratic candidates.

The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers spent their members' dues to support labor-friendly candidates in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina, only to see Republicans win handily. Some critics say not only did they get little bang for their bucks, they may have further alienated members who don't share the organizations' politics.

The National Education Association spent $40 million on ads in various Senate and gubernatorial races. In Michigan, the NEA spent $200,000 in a bid to unseat Gov. Rick Snyder, according to Education Week. In Florida, the AFT spent $500,000 supporting Democratic candidate Charlie Crist's unsuccessful effort to unseat Gov. Rick Scott. And in Wisconsin, the teachers union campaigned hard against Gov. Scott Walker, who has now won three campaigns in four years, including a recall effort led by public-sector unions.

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