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I don’t know about the NEA. But I do know that the AFT leadership cannot claim to represent the views of their teachers. And that’s because the AFT leadership is not elected by their teachers.

Here’s how it works. A slate is hand-picked by the local union boss, then rubber-stamped by a rigged local vote. I suppose it happens occasionally somewhere, but I have never seen an independent teacher get on that slate. The local slate goes to the national convention.

And then the national convention elects the AFT president. It’s all very Stalinist. You would think that an organization that believes in democracy so much would allow for the direct election of the national leadership. But nope.

By the way, while the national leadership is far left, the average teachers pretty much mirror society as a whole. You’ve got your Bernie Bro’s. But you’ve also got your MAGA folks.

You are absolutely right on how these unions work.
My wife's District and city are right leaning.(she is Libertarian slight right.) About half the teachers are left, maybe 20% are soft right, rest wont talk politics at all.

All of union leadership is left or far left.
the union picks who is running, if their candidate is not unopposed, they will pick the farthest left candidate.

I was at a job that was unionized while I was there. what we voted on was Union= YES; NO = authorizing a strike. I,m sure my NO vote was tossed out.

Unions do have their place in protecting workers rights and safety, but they have WAY overreached their authority and have become extorters. The District is no better as they are top heavy in Management; incredibly short sighted with no plan(other to stay in power); and authoritarian to such an extent that Winston Smith would call them Big Brother's younger cousin.