Billionaire-backed PACs fund campaign that ousted West Virginia voucher reformer Vernon Criss

In early 2026, Delegate Vernon Criss sought to place a $5,000 annual cap on West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship voucher program, warning that unchecked growth could jeopardize the state budget. His proposal sparked a backlash from school-choice groups funded by billionaire donors such as the Koch family network and Jeffrey Yass. Three political action committees—School Freedom Fund, Sugar Maple PAC, and a Koch-affiliated PAC—spent over $145,000 on independent ads targeting Criss and other Republicans who questioned the program.

The campaign helped 23-year-old Charles Hartzog defeat Criss in the Republican primary, capturing 61 % of the vote. The Hope Scholarship, originally created in 2015, now serves about 26,000 students and costs roughly $150 million a year. The episode underscores how national donors can shape state education policy and electoral outcomes.