Republicans take to mask wars as virus surges in red states

WASHINGTON — Top Republicans are battling school districts in their own states’ urban, heavily Democratic areas over whether students should be required to mask up as they head back to school — reigniting ideological divides over mandates even as the latest coronavirus surge ravages the reddest, most unvaccinated parts of the nation. Superintendent Rocky Hanna said in a letter to the governor that his district sought “the flexibility and the autonomy to make the decisions for our schools.” “Unfortunately, it has become well-politicized,” Hanna said in announcing his decision, adding that if “things went sideways” as school begins anew “and heaven forbid we lost a child to this virus, I can’t just simply blame the governor of the state of Florida.” Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of Equal Ground Education Fund, which has spent months helping facilitate vaccinations for Floridians, said “school boards across the state are saying, ’We’re going to call your bluff, and we’re going to require mask mandates for our students.’” “‘You’re not taking the lead so, if you want schools to open, here’s what you need to do,’” Burney-Clark said districts are telling DeSantis. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he opposes DeSantis’ orders against school mask mandates, saying on CNN Sunday, “The local official should have control here.” One Republican governor has backtracked. Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, who has vowed not to mandate masks in schools if elected, responded in a statement, “We must respect parents’ right to decide what is best for their own children.” Unlike DeSantis, Abbott and many other leading Republicans, Youngkin has prioritized his business experience as a former private equity manager more than his loyalty to former President Donald Trump — little surprise in a state Biden carried by 10 percentage points. “It’s expanded beyond the people you initially see at the Trump rallies,” Patrick Murray, Monmouth’s polling director, said of Republican mask opposition.