A recent poll has revealed that an overwhelming majority of Democrats in the deep blue state of Maryland support a policy allowing families to use taxpayer funding for a wide range of schooling choices, including private school tuition, tutoring, and more. The survey is the latest evidence that the vast majority of American voters favor school choice policies, in stark contrast to most Democrats in public office.

The survey, conducted in November 2025 by the Center for Excellence in Polling, found that 77% of Democratic voters in the Old Line State are in favor of a new federal scholarship tax credit program that offers up to $1,700 per individual ($3,400 for couples) that would fund a range of educational opportunities for families, including private school tuition, tutoring, special-needs services, and more. The results mirrored the support of GOP voters at 77% and notably outperformed the support of Independents at 64%.

As observed by Maryland Family Institute Founder and President Jeffrey Trimbath, “In a state where Democrats hold a commanding political advantage — roughly 51% of voters are Democrats, compared with 24% Republicans and 25% independents — the finding is remarkable.” He pointed out that black voters showed the strongest support for the school choice program of any demographic at 78% (just 55% of white voters supported the program). Trimbath further highlighted an independent analysis estimating that Maryland “could see more than $500 million in educational resources if just 30% of taxpayers take advantage of the credit.”

But in order for Marylanders to take advantage of the federal program, Democratic Governor Wes Moore must opt his state in. Most deep blue states have failed to do so, with the vast majority of the 28 states that have opted in so far being conservative.

Notably, most Democratic lawmakers oppose school choice measures. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), California Governor Gavin Newsom, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), and other party leaders have expressed strong opposition to voucher programs and charter schools, arguing that such educational freedom policies undermine public schools. The view is in lockstep with that of teachers’ unions, who Trimbath noted are “one of the party’s most powerful allies” and who are currently filing lawsuits against states that enact school choice legislation.

But Democratic politicians are finding themselves increasingly out of step with the vast majority of the American public, even among their own voters. Polling conducted by EdChoice shows that three out of four Democrats (74%) favor education savings accounts (ESAs), along with 70% of Independents (77% of Republicans support them). As The Wall Street Journal has observed, “The biggest government reform story in recent years has been the explosive growth of school choice. Some 34 states now offer vouchers, scholarships or savings accounts, 19 of which have universal choice programs.”

Still, prominent Democrats like Moore, who Trimbath notes is “a rising national figure within the Democratic Party,” are beginning to come out in favor of school choice. Earlier this year, during “School Choice Week,” Moore released a statement proclaiming, “All children in Maryland should have access to the highest quality education possible, because education is the foundation on which we build everything else.” As Trimbath points out, Moore cannot deny the benefits that educational freedom afforded him, highlighting that “As a young man, he attended private schools in New York and later a military boarding school in Pennsylvania — a decision his mother made that he credits with changing the trajectory of his life.”

Experts like Leslie Davis Hiner, who serves as vice president of Legal Policy at EdChoice, say that the reason for the widespread support of school choice by Democratic voters is simple.

“Democratic voters are parents too,” she told The Washington Stand. “Every parent wants to be able to do whatever is necessary to help their child learn and succeed in life. If you ask whether Democrats support school choice, that is a political question. If you ask whether parents who are also Democratic voters support school choice, that’s a personal question. The majority of parents, regardless of politics, support school choice. This has been the case for years because school choice is personal to families.”

Hiner further emphasized that the new federal scholarship tax credit program “does not take money from the state budget, and children in both public and private schools reap the benefits of donations for scholarships from generous donors. The governor must decide if Maryland children deserve an additional benefit to help them learn.”