Government Unions Spent $915 Million on Politics in 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., December 8, 2025 — Four of the largest national government unions combined to spend more than $915 million on political and ideological causes in the 2023-24 election cycle. A new report from the Commonwealth Foundation reveals the heavy partisan lean of union dollars, supporting almost entirely left-wing candidates and causes. 

Of the money spent on national politics by the NEA (National Education Association), AFT (American Federation of Teachers), SEIU (Service Employees International Union), and AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees), nearly $650 million—over 85% of funding—came from union dues. The remaining spending came from the unions’ political action committees (PACs). 

These four unions also invested heavily in state-level politics. Five states saw the highest union spend: Illinois, California, Washington, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Nearly two-thirds ($105 million) of overall state-level union spending was focused on these five states alone.  

David Osborne, Senior Director of Labor Policy for the Commonwealth Foundation, offered the following statement in response: 

“Government union executives continue to feed their own political and ideological causes with union money. What’s most remarkable, however, is the source of these funds. Union executives appear more willing than ever to use members’ dues money—not just voluntary PAC dollars—to get their friends elected and progressive causes funded.  

“The big question is whether rank-and-file union members know where their money is actually spent. Years ago, they could expect union executives to use dues to drive member services, including contract negotiations and grievance processing.  

“Now, union members are unwittingly propping up left-leaning candidates and progressive causes like abortion, critical race theory, and defunding the police. Do members know—and support—what 25 percent of their dues are funding? 

“Transparency has never been the strong suit of public sector unions, with members often left in the dark about where their dues money goes once it’s taken out of their paychecks. 

“Workers deserve to know how their hard-earned money is spent by their union leaders. Union influence across the nation should be earned through member participation, not by shady back-door money shuffling through PACs and affiliated group contributions.  

“It’s due time that government unions’ hidden agendas face much-needed accountability as they try to win states through the wallets of unsuspecting workers.” 

Read the full report here.

For media inquiries or questions, please contact Giana DePaul at gmd@commonwealthfoundation.org or (215) 859-0384.