3 gubernatorial races in key states could shape access to Catholic school scholarships
CatholicVote is urging voters to back Republicans in Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin who support a federal tax credit that could expand access to Catholic education.
Gubernatorial elections in Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin could determine whether students in those states gain access to scholarships supported by a new federal education tax credit, with Republican candidates pledging to participate and their Democratic opponents withholding support.
In an Oct. 20 press release, CatholicVote highlighted the divide over the Education Freedom Tax Credit, which launches Jan. 1, 2027. The program encourages private donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) that help families cover K-12 education expenses, including Catholic school tuition.
In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed three measures that would have allowed the state to opt in. Republican challenger Andy Biggs, on the other hand, has publicly pledged to opt in, outlining his support in his September campaign platform.
In Michigan, Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson opposes the program, according to CatholicVote, while Republican nominee John James supports it and has promised to opt in on his first day as governor.
James, who has three children, said in September that he believes “it’s the proper place” for parents “not politicians and not bureaucrats in Lansing” to have the freedom and resources to determine which educational opportunities best suit their children.
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In Wisconsin, Democratic nominee David Crowley has withheld support, while Republican nominee Tom Tiffany has pledged to opt in promptly if elected, CatholicVote said.
According to an Oct. 2 Cap Times report, Tiffany said that if his state doesn’t participate in the program, its resources “will simply go to students in other states.” He added that the scholarships are “about giving students more opportunities, and even Democrat governors in other states recognize that and have opted in.”
Under proposed regulations released Oct. 1, eligible taxpayers may claim an annual dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credit of up to $1,700, or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly, when they donate to approved SGOs. States must opt in to the program and identify qualifying SGOs before their students can receive scholarships.
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Taxpayers can donate to an eligible organization in a participating state regardless of where they live. CatholicVote warned that residents of states that have not opted in — including Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin — could therefore help fund scholarships elsewhere while students in their own communities miss out on the program.
“Though many parents would like to provide their children with the excellent formation and strong community for which Catholic schools are renowned, tuition costs are often out of reach,” CatholicVote President and CEO Kelsey Reinhardt said in the release.
“This tax credit is a game-changer. It reduces the tax burden for contributors, opens doors for lower-income families and builds up local Catholic school communities,” she added. “But none of this can happen in states that refuse to participate. That’s exactly why these gubernatorial races are so important.”
CatholicVote cited September research from the American Federation for Children Growth Fund estimating that donations could fund $9.4 billion in scholarships each year if 5% of eligible taxpayers donate, or $37.6 billion if 20% donate.
CatholicVote Vice President for Advocacy Josh Mercer urged voters to support the three Republican candidates, calling Biggs, James, and Tiffany “the clear choices for faith-driven voters who care about expanding access to quality education.”
He added, “Families in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin deserve a governor who says ‘yes’ to federal education scholarship funds.”
According to the Internal Revenue Service, 30 states had so far formally opted in to the program as of Sept. 14: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also opted her state into the program on Oct. 9, telling the New York Post that she wasn’t “going to leave money on the table when it could help our kids.”
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