Local Candidate Support

Originally Published: October 11, 2024

1776 Project Aims to “Stop Indoctrination”

Three candidates for St. Mary’s County Board of Education were endorsed this year by the 1776 Project PAC. Founded in 2021, and based in New York, the PAC has spent millions endorsing hundreds of school board candidates across the country since then. According to a 2021 Axios article, the 1776 Project was founded to “overturn any teaching of the 1619 Project or critical race theory.”

Last year in Maryland, the 1776 Project was cited with a $20K campaign finance violation fine–the largest in state history. Nearly 14K text messages were sent to voters in Carroll County asking them to “stop indoctrination in our schools” and “vote for the pro-parent ticket for school board” in the 2022 election. As explained in a Maryland Matters article from 2023, the messages were sent without an authority line resulting in the violation. The PAC also supported the self-titled “Education Not Indoctrination Slate” in Frederick County’s 2021 board of education election.

Candidates can apply through the PAC’s website for an endorsement. The form remains available although 2024 endorsements are now closed. Questions include “What is the makeup of your school board?” with answers like “Majority Liberal, Lean Liberal, Split, Lean Conservative, Majority Conservative.” 1776 Project asks if candidates are running as a slate, and whether the school district is rural, urban, or suburban. Candidates select if they are opposed to “Critical Race Theory,” “Social Emotional Learning,” “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion programs,” and “Critical Gender Theory.” Candidates must also respond if they are “committed to reviewing and replacing curriculum and other equity based standards on the board level,” and provide any examples of “CRT, DEI, SEL” from the school community. Completed applications are not available on the PAC’s website.

This election, the 1776 Project PAC has provided over $7K, each, in support of Brandie Edelen, Elena Brewer, and David Drys. The money went to Logan Circle Group (LCG), a political consulting and messaging firm based in Jupiter, Florida. LCG founder, Harlan Hill, co-authored a book with 1776 Project founder, Ryan Girdusky, further linking these groups. On its website, LCG says it’s “defining moment arrived in 2017 when it emerged as a pioneer in America First consulting…[and] boldly aligned itself with candidates who proudly supported President Trump.”

In Maryland, Board of Education races are, by law, supposed to be non-partisan.