Los Angeles School Board Race Brings Big Money and Celebrity Endorsements

By Amelia Hamilton | 2:00 PM on May 10, 2017

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FILE- In this April 25, 2017, file photo, John Legend attends the TIME 100 Gala, celebrating the 100 most influential people in the world, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. The singer-songwriter is expected to become the first recipient of the Salem Advocate for Social Justice award when he accepts the honor Tuesday, May 2, at Salem State University. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

Normally, school board races go virtually unnoticed, but what has been normal about politics lately? Not much. On that note, the the race for Los Angeles Unified School District Board is attracting celebrity attention- and incredible amounts of money. On May 16, the contest will end in a runoff, and the culmination of the most expensive school board race in American history, with spending topping $11 million.

This race is also unusual in it’s celebrity endorsements. Here are some of the notables:

Senator and presidential contender Bernie Sanders (endorsed Steve Zimmer and Imelda Padilla)
former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (endorsed Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez)
former Senator Barbara Boxer (endorsed Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (endorsed Steve Zimmer)
actor and director Tim Robbins (endorsed Steve Zimmer)
Singer John Legend (endorsed Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez)
“Downton Abbey” star Allen Leech (endorsed Nick Melvoin)