Astorino Gathers Enough Signatures To Add “Stop Common Core” To Ballot

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino has succeeded in adding a “Stop Common Core” line to the state’s November voting ballot, according to Jon Campbell from Gannet’s Albany Bureau.

Astorino’s campaign team reported that it filed 62,000 signatures from voters in support of adding the ballot that will allow New Yorker to vote for Astorino in November while expressing their opposition to the Common Core, the state-led policy initiative aimed at reforming educational standards. The petition significantly surpassed the 15,000 signature minimum needed by August 19, a fact Astorino’s campaign touted.

“This is the largest independent petition drive in New York State history and demonstrates a broad level of support for both Rob’s candidacy and the movement to Stop Common Core,” said Campaign Manager Michael Lawler in an email.

• What Is Common Core?

Advocacy groups like StudentsFirstNY, which supports Common Core standards, are unsurprisingly irked by the development.