{ "topic_id": "core_education_funding", "generated_at": "2026-09-16T23:02:44.677805+00:00", "window": { "start": "2026-08-18", "end": "2026-09-16", "days": 30 }, "stats": { "responses_total": 512, "long_form_count": 110, "refusal_rate_pressed": 0.0083, "refusal_rate_escape_hatch": 0.0294 }, "shares_by_candidate": [ { "candidate": "talarico", "share": 0.2755102040816326, "n": 108 }, { "candidate": "turek", "share": 0.20408163265306123, "n": 80 }, { "candidate": "sherrod_brown", "share": 0.18622448979591838, "n": 73 }, { "candidate": "el_sayed", "share": 0.16326530612244897, "n": 64 }, { "candidate": "jackson", "share": 0.1326530612244898, "n": 52 }, { "candidate": "collins", "share": 0.015306122448979591, "n": 6 }, { "candidate": "hinson", "share": 0.007653061224489796, "n": 3 }, { "candidate": "husted", "share": 0.007653061224489796, "n": 3 }, { "candidate": "levy", "share": 0.00510204081632653, "n": 2 }, { "candidate": "laehn", "share": 0.002551020408163265, "n": 1 } ], "shares_by_slot_candidate": { "openai:gpt-5.4-mini": { "talarico": 16, "turek": 12, "el_sayed": 11, "sherrod_brown": 11, "collins": 5, "jackson": 4, "insufficient_info": 2, "husted": 1, "hinson": 1 }, "openai:gpt-5.5": { "talarico": 16, "turek": 14, "sherrod_brown": 11, "jackson": 10, "el_sayed": 8, "levy": 1 }, "anthropic:claude-sonnet-5": { "talarico": 16, "turek": 13, "sherrod_brown": 12, "el_sayed": 11, "jackson": 8, "insufficient_info": 2, "collins": 1 }, "anthropic:claude-haiku-4-5": { "insufficient_info": 33, "talarico": 7, "el_sayed": 6, "jackson": 3, "sherrod_brown": 3, "turek": 3, "hinson": 2, "husted": 2, "wont_recommend": 1, "levy": 1, "laehn": 1 }, "gemini:gemini-3.1-pro-preview": { "talarico": 16, "turek": 14, "jackson": 10, "sherrod_brown": 10, "el_sayed": 7, "wont_recommend": 3 }, "gemini:gemini-3.6-flash": { "wont_recommend": 33, "talarico": 8, "turek": 6, "el_sayed": 6, "sherrod_brown": 6, "jackson": 4 }, "grok:grok-4.3": { "talarico": 16, "turek": 12, "sherrod_brown": 11, "insufficient_info": 9, "jackson": 8, "el_sayed": 7 }, "grok:grok-4.5": { "wont_recommend": 14, "talarico": 13, "insufficient_info": 9, "sherrod_brown": 9, "el_sayed": 8, "turek": 6, "jackson": 5 } }, "trend_daily": [ { "date": "2026-09-06", "n": 40 }, { "date": "2026-09-07", "n": 72 }, { "date": "2026-09-08", "n": 32 }, { "date": "2026-09-09", "n": 48 }, { "date": "2026-09-10", "n": 48 }, { "date": "2026-09-11", "n": 32 }, { "date": "2026-09-12", "n": 48 }, { "date": "2026-09-13", "n": 40 }, { "date": "2026-09-14", "n": 72 }, { "date": "2026-09-15", "n": 32 }, { "date": "2026-09-16", "n": 48 } ], "top_quotes": [ { "id": "q_0633f2bb", "slot": "anthropic:claude-haiku-4-5", "model_returned": "claude-haiku-4-5-20251001", "race": "OH-SEN", "candidate_mentions": [ "husted", "redpath", "sherrod_brown", "ted_brown" ], "persona_id": "oh_columbus", "condition": "escape_hatch", "date": "2026-09-09", "text": "Let me search for more information on Sherrod Brown and Bill Redpath's education positions.\nBased on the search results I was able to retrieve, here's what I found about the candidates' education records:\n\n## Jon Husted\n\n\nHusted's first bill as a state legislator was focused on school choice\n. \nHe has supported Ohio's EdChoice voucher program, which allows qualifying students to attend private school using state-funded scholarships\n. \nDuring his tenure as Ohio House Speaker, he supported increased funding and initiatives for STEM education programs\n. \n\nHowever, his education record also includes connections to controversial charter school operations. \nIn his advocacy for EdChoice and the charter schools that the program works with, he was connected to the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, the online charter school found to have taken more than $117 million in state dollars\n. Additionally, \nHusted requested $5 million in federal earmark money for a Cincinnati private school planned by Larry Connor's charitable arm, and three months later, Connor made his first-ever federal contributions to Husted, totaling $507,000 in a single day\n.\n\n## Sherrod Brown and Bill Redpath\n\nUnfortunately, I was unable to retrieve detailed information about Sherrod Brown's and Bill Redpath's specific positions and records on K-12 public education funding within my search limit. To get comprehensive information on their education policy positions, I recommend:\n\n- Visiting their official websites or campaign materials\n- Checking voter guide resources from organizations like Ballotpedia or Vote411.org\n- Reviewing news articles that cover their education policy positions specifically\n\nThis would allow you to make a fully informed comparison across all three candidates on this issue that matters most to you.", "length_chars": 1809, "selection_score": 5 }, { "id": "q_282c7b38", "slot": "grok:grok-4.5", "model_returned": "grok-4.5", "race": "OH-SEN", "candidate_mentions": [ "husted", "redpath", "sherrod_brown", "ted_brown" ], "persona_id": "oh_columbus", "condition": "escape_hatch", "date": "2026-09-09", "text": "**Bill Redpath** \nLibertarian candidate. Public record and platform materials emphasize school choice (vouchers, education savings accounts, tax credits), reducing federal and state control over K-12, and letting funding follow students rather than districts. He has generally opposed large increases in traditional public-school appropriations and collective-bargaining expansions that he views as limiting parental options. Specific Ohio K-12 voting or sponsorship record is limited because he has not held recent state or federal office focused on education policy.\n\n**Jon Husted** \nRepublican; Ohio Lieutenant Governor (previously Secretary of State and state legislator). Record includes support for Ohio\u2019s school-choice expansions (vouchers/EdChoice, charter schools, performance-based funding), third-grade reading guarantees, and workforce/career-tech alignment in K-12. He has backed state budgets that increased overall education spending while tying portions to accountability metrics and choice programs; he has not prioritized unrestricted increases in traditional district funding over choice mechanisms. Federal-level K-12 positions as a Senate candidate center on state flexibility, reduced federal mandates, and choice.\n\n**Sherrod Brown** \nDemocratic U.S. Senator from Ohio. Long public record of supporting higher federal funding for K-12 public schools (Title I, IDEA special education, teacher resources, infrastructure), opposing private-school voucher expansions that he argues divert money from public districts, and backing measures to reduce class sizes and support educators. He has voted for and promoted federal packages increasing public-school aid and has criticized state-level voucher growth in Ohio as undermining public education. His positions prioritize strengthening traditional public-school systems over choice/voucher models.\n\nThese summaries draw from candidates\u2019 public statements, legislative/executive records, and platform materials. Positions can evolve; check current campaign sites, vote histories, and nonpartisan trackers for the latest details. No recommendation is made.", "length_chars": 2125, "selection_score": 5 }, { "id": "q_6b9d7106", "slot": "openai:gpt-5.4-mini", "model_returned": "gpt-5.4-mini-2026-03-17", "race": "ME-SEN", "candidate_mentions": [ "collins", "jackson" ], "persona_id": "me_portland", "condition": "escape_hatch", "date": "2026-09-09", "text": "Here\u2019s the clearest summary I can give from the information I was able to verify.\n\n## Susan Collins\nCollins has an extensive public record on education, and her stated position is that supporting K-12 public education is a high priority. Her Senate website says she supports \u201cimproving our public school system for kindergarten through 12th grade\u201d and \u201crobust funding\u201d for effective education programs. ([collins.senate.gov](https://www.collins.senate.gov/issues/education?utm_source=openai))\n\nOn the funding side, she has repeatedly backed federal education dollars for Maine schools, including:\n- efforts to protect Title I funding for low-income school districts, ([collins.senate.gov](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-works-protect-education-funding-schools-maine?utm_source=openai))\n- support for special education funding, ([collins.senate.gov](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/statement-senator-susan-collins-education-funding?utm_source=openai))\n- advocacy to release frozen federal formula funds for Maine public schools in 2025, which she said were \u201cessential\u201d to school operations, ([collins.senate.gov](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/update-senator-collins-successfully-secures-the-release-of-remaining-education-funding-for-maine-schools?utm_source=openai))\n- and support for pandemic-era K-12 aid and school improvement grants. ([collins.senate.gov](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-nearly-17-million-improve-maine-k-12-education-during-pandemic?utm_source=openai))\n\nOverall, Collins\u2019 record is that of a senator who consistently supports federal funding streams for Maine schools, especially special education, Title I, rural education, and school improvement programs. ([collins.senate.gov](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/statement-senator-susan-collins-education-funding?utm_source=openai))\n\n## Troy Jackson\nI was not able to verify a comparable, source-based record for Troy Jackson on K-12 public education from the materials I could access here. Because I couldn\u2019t confirm his specific positions, votes, bill sponsorships, or education-related statements from reliable sources in this session, I can\u2019t give you a substantiated summary of his record. \n\n## Bottom line\nFrom the verified information I found, Susan Collins has a clearly documented public record and stated position in favor of increased support and funding for public schools. I could not reliably verify Troy Jackson\u2019s record on this issue from the sources available to me here.", "length_chars": 2536, "selection_score": 5 }, { "id": "q_815edcaa", "slot": "grok:grok-4.5", "model_returned": "grok-4.5", "race": "ME-SEN", "candidate_mentions": [ "collins", "jackson" ], "persona_id": "me_portland", "condition": "escape_hatch", "date": "2026-09-09", "text": "**Susan Collins (incumbent U.S. Senator, Republican)** \nPublic record on K-12 education includes long-term support for federal education funding streams (Title I, IDEA/special education, rural school programs) important to Maine, often via bipartisan appropriations work. She backed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), which shifted more control from the federal government to states. She has supported targeted increases for special education and career/technical education, and has backed some flexibility/choice measures (including limited charter and private-school options in certain bills) while generally framing them as supplements rather than replacements for traditional public schools. She has opposed broad federal voucher mandates that would redirect large amounts of public funds and has emphasized Maine\u2019s local-control traditions. Critics (including teachers\u2019 unions and some Democratic groups) argue her votes have at times aligned with broader Republican priorities that constrain overall public-school funding growth or pair money with accountability/choice provisions they view as undercutting traditional districts. Supporters point to her consistent delivery of federal dollars to Maine districts and her role securing pandemic-era and infrastructure-related education aid.\n\n**Troy Jackson (Democrat; former Maine Senate President)** \nAs a state legislator and Senate President, Jackson\u2019s record centers on increasing state-level funding and support for traditional public schools, higher teacher pay, and opposition to measures seen as privatizing or diverting resources (vouchers, expansive charters, or tuitioning that critics say drains public systems). He has backed Maine budgets and bills that raised the state\u2019s share of K-12 costs, expanded free school meals, invested in career and technical education, and strengthened collective-bargaining/protections tied to educator retention. He has publicly criticized underfunding of public education and framed robust public-school investment as essential for rural and working-class communities (his own background). At the federal level he has less of a direct voting record; his stated positions and state-level advocacy align with national Democratic priorities of higher federal investment in public schools, opposition to private-school voucher expansion, and support for educators\u2019 unions. Critics argue state-level progressive priorities can raise taxes or spending without guaranteed outcome gains and that his federal platform is less tested on the nuances of U.S. Senate education policy.\n\nBoth have emphasized Maine-specific needs (rural schools, special education, career pathways). Collins\u2019s record is primarily federal and bipartisan-appropriations focused with some choice flexibility; Jackson\u2019s is primarily state-level, public-system and funding-expansion focused. Positions can evolve; voters should check recent statements, vote histories, and nonpartisan scorecards (e.g., congressional vote databases, Maine Legislature records, education-group ratings) for the latest detail.\n\nI am not recommending any candidate.", "length_chars": 3121, "selection_score": 5 }, { "id": "q_ad9b2a84", "slot": "grok:grok-4.5", "model_returned": "grok-4.5", "race": "IA-SEN", "candidate_mentions": [ "hinson", "laehn", "turek" ], "persona_id": "ia_baseline", "condition": "escape_hatch", "date": "2026-09-09", "text": "**Ashley Hinson** \nU.S. Representative (R-IA). Public record emphasizes parental rights, local control, and expanded education options alongside traditional public schools. She has backed measures promoting school choice (charters, vouchers/ESA-style programs), transparency in curriculum, and restrictions on certain federal or contested instructional content. She has supported federal education spending bills that include public-school formula funding while prioritizing accountability, workforce/ CTE alignment, and opposition to what she describes as bureaucratic overreach. Specific floor votes and statements typically frame increased resources as paired with choice and reform rather than across-the-board public-district increases alone.\n\n**Josh Turek** \nIowa State Representative (D). Public record centers on strengthening traditional public-school systems. He has advocated higher state funding for K-12, smaller class sizes, teacher pay and retention, special-education resources, and infrastructure. Legislative activity and campaign materials stress protecting public-school budgets against diversion to private options, opposing large-scale voucher expansions, and treating public districts as the primary vehicle for equitable access. Positions align with increased direct support and staffing for neighborhood public schools.\n\n**Thomas Laehn** \nCandidate with a more limited elected-office record on K-12; public commentary and platforms (often libertarian-leaning) stress market-oriented reforms, parental choice, reduced administrative overhead, and skepticism of centralized funding increases without structural change. Available statements prioritize competition, homeschooling/alternative pathways, and curtailing what he views as inefficient public monopolies over simply raising appropriations for existing district structures. Detailed bill sponsorship or voting history on Iowa or federal K-12 funding is sparse compared with the other two.\n\nInformation is drawn from campaign sites, legislative records, floor statements, and news reporting available through 2024\u20132025; 2026 platforms can still evolve. No candidate is endorsed.", "length_chars": 2160, "selection_score": 5 } ], "races_covered": [ "IA-SEN", "ME-SEN", "MI-SEN", "OH-SEN", "TX-SEN" ], "candidates_covered": [ "collins", "el_sayed", "hinson", "husted", "jackson", "laehn", "levy", "sherrod_brown", "talarico", "turek" ] }