Rightwing extremists defeated by Democrats in US school board elections

Republican-backed culture warrior candidates fare poorly in Illinois and Wisconsin, offering hope to the left

Scores of rightwing extremists were defeated in school board elections in April, in a victory for the left in the US and what Democrats hope could prove to be a playbook for running against Republicans in the year ahead.

In Illinois, Democrats said more than 70% of the school board candidates it had endorsed won their races, often defeating the kind of anti-LGBTQ+ culture warrior candidates who have taken control of school boards across the country.