Education

Books in school libraries

19 public statements from 2026 candidates · 1 related bill

§1The range of views

Why this matters: These rules shape what students can read at school and how much say parents, librarians and state officials each have.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Who decides which books stay in public school libraries and classrooms when parents or others challenge them, and what standards apply.

  1. Statewide rules that require removing books with sexually explicit content
  2. Local review of each challenged book by the school or district
  3. State limits on removals, such as keeping challenged books available while they're reviewed

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Statewide rules that require removing books with sexually explicit content (1)

  • Rick Brattin MO-5
    His campaign website says he sponsored legislation to keep books it describes as pornographic out of school libraries.1

State limits on removals, such as keeping challenged books available while they're reviewed (2)

  • Mike Sell FL-4
    His campaign's bill tracker lists him as opposing Florida's 2022 law requiring certified media specialists to review classroom library books, which it says led some teachers to empty their shelves, and its platform says challenged books should stay available during any review, with an independent panel of educators, parents and librarians deciding rather than a single complaint.2,3
  • JB Pritzker IL Governor
    His campaign website lists enacting what it calls the first ban on book bans in the nation among his accomplishments.4,5

Statements that don't match one option (16)

  • Marni von Wilpert CA-48
    Her campaign website says she will fight book bans that target LGBTQ+ voices.6
  • Angie Nixon FL Senate special
    Her campaign website says she opposes federal or state efforts to ban books.7
  • Byron Donalds FL Governor
    His campaign website says that in the Florida House he passed what it calls a first-in-the-nation bill allowing parents and community members to review instructional materials in schools.8
  • Dean Ocean Abrams FL Governor
    His campaign website says sexually explicit material does not belong in K-12 libraries under a written, age-based standard, with decisions made by district committees that include parents and librarians, and that books should not be removed because of their ideas.9
  • Zach Lahn IA Governor
    His campaign website says he would keep explicit material out of K-12 classrooms.10
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says he opposes book bans and supports the bill that would provide federal support to school districts fighting book bans in court.11,12
  • Christina Bertrand Hines MI-10
    Her education topic page says she will oppose book bans that pull literature only because it makes readers think harder or tells the story of someone whose life differs from their own.13
  • Thomas Holbrook MO-4
    His campaign website says he is against banning books because it constitutes censorship, and that he also opposes giving parents and legal guardians a blank check.14
  • Ty Pinkins MS Senate
    His campaign website says education has been politicized and that, instead of banning books and censoring curriculum, the focus should be on giving every student the tools they need.15
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says she opposes book bans.16
  • Helene Neville ND-AL
    Her campaign website says she is against removing or hiding parts of history, and names book bans as one way that happens.17
  • Becky Kelly Stille NE-3
    Her campaign website says she opposes banning books in schools and rewriting history to please certain people.18
  • Kelly Ayotte NH Governor
    Her campaign website says she has vetoed bills including what it calls book bans.19
  • Adam Hamawy NJ-12
    His campaign website says he opposes book bans in schools and libraries and lists fighting book bans and censorship among his education priorities.20
  • Walid Hakim SC Governor
    His platform says he opposes book bans.21
  • James Talarico TX Senate
    His campaign website says he opposes book bans and that he blocked a proposed statewide book ban for public schools in the Texas House.22

§3Related bills

Why this matters: Bills from 2023–2026 that bear on this issue, with how Congress handled them.