Julie Van Winkle, a vice president of the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), was recorded encouraging union members to vote against Sonja Shaw in California's superintendent race by describing Shaw as a "real threat" and "MAGA lady." The audio suggests that Shaw poses a significant risk if elected, given her alignment with conservative policies. Shaw responded by accusing UTLA of protecting a failing system and claimed the leak confirms their fear of her candidacy.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Julie Van Winkle, the AFT vice president and president of AFT 1021 at United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), was recorded urging her members to vote against Sonja Shaw, who is running for California state superintendent. Van Winkle referred to Shaw as a "real threat" and warned that having Shaw in charge would create a “huge problem.” The recording suggests that UTLA strongly supports Richard Barrera over Shaw. The incident highlights the political influence of teacher unions in school district elections, particularly in a context where Van Winkle's own Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) faces significant challenges like poor academic outcomes and labor disputes.
Written for “LA Teachers Union Boss Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
A top LA teachers’ union official has been caught on video urging members to turn out for California state superintendent Sonja Shaw’s rival — describing her as a “real threat” and warning that “MAGA lady” would create a “huge problem.”
asserted
lady → catch → problem
The audio, shared with the California Post, appears to feature Julie Van Winkle, UTLA’s AFT vice president and president of AFT 1021, discussing the November race for superintendent of public instruction.
asserted
Winkle → share → instruction
“You know, she’s she’s just a real threat, and even though we feel good about Richard winning, it’s also really important that we get all of our members and all of your contacts to vote, yes for Richard Barrera,” the woman says in the recording.
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“First of all, because he’s a really strong candidate, and then secondly, so that we prevent this MAGA lady from being in charge of public education, ’cause that would be that would cause, obviously a huge problem for us,” she continues.
The California Post has reached out to Van Winkle and the United Teachers Los Angeles for comment.
asserted
Post → know → comment
Van Winkle is listed by UTLA as the union’s AFT vice president and AFT 1021 president.
asserted
Winkle → list → president
The union represents about 35,000 educators, according to its website.
uncertain
union → represent → website
Shaw finished first with roughly 24.5% of the vote in the primary, according to contemporary election coverage, with Barrera advancing in second place.
uncertain
Barrera → finish → place
The superintendent race comes as California overhauls the structure of the state education department under a law backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
asserted
California → come → Newsom
Beginning in January 2027, the elected superintendent is slated to take on a different role, including serving as an independent public advocate and evaluator, while a governor-appointed director would oversee the California Department of Education’s day-to-day operations.
asserted
director → begin → operations
Shaw, who has built a national profile around parental rights and school policy, seized on the leaked audio as evidence that the teachers union views her candidacy as a threat.
asserted
union → build → threat
“They just admitted it.
asserted
They → admit → it
I’m a ‘real threat’ to their failing agenda,” Shaw told the Post.
asserted
Shaw → ’m → Post
“Parents deserve a seat at the table when it comes to their own children,” she added, arguing that teachers, students and parents deserve greater accountability in California schools.
asserted
teachers → deserve → schools
Shaw also criticized what she described as the union’s record on student achievement and accused UTLA leadership of protecting a system she says has failed students.
asserted
she → criticize → students
“The Los Angeles teachers union has made clear that it considers me a ‘real threat,’” Shaw said.
asserted
Shaw → make → ?
“I believe the reason is simple: I have been willing to hold powerful institutions accountable.”
asserted
institutions → believe → ?
Shaw pointed to her record on the Chino Valley school board, saying the district has demonstrated what she believes is possible when student achievement, parental involvement and accountability are prioritized.
asserted
achievement → point → board
“I’m not going anywhere,” Shaw said.
asserted
Shaw → go → ?
“I’ll keep showing up.
asserted
I → keep → ?
I’ll keep asking the hard questions, and I’ll keep fighting for accountability, transparency, parents and students.”
asserted
I → keep → accountability
The Aporia
