But changes could be in store. Gov. Walker got the boot in the state GOP convention.

While Democratic candidate Scott Matheson does not support tuition tax credits, GOP nominee Jon Huntsman Jr. backs a voucher bill helping parents of disabled children attending private schools, which he says could serve as a "test" for tuition tax credits.

The latest Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll shows Huntsman leading Matheson by 10 percentage points.

The 18,000-member UEA is known for having a strong PAC. In some 2000 legislative races, UEA donations made up 10 percent or more of a candidate's funds, records have shown.

Some conservative lawmakers have bemoaned the UEA for backing their opponents.

But now, they have an advocate.

Parents for Choice in Education PAC is a strong financial presence this election cycle, thanks to some deep-pocket donors.

Of the $187,500 it took in this year, $28,000 came from PAC founder Doug Holmes of Farmington, and $50,000 was donated by Overstock.com CEO Patrick M. Byrne of Park City.

But the largest contributor by far is All Children Matter, an Alexandria, Va., group aimed at electing those who support "principles of school choice most appropriate for their respective state." That group kicked in $102,000 to Parents for Choice in Education, which has lobbied for public charter schools, private-school vouchers and tuition tax credits.

Peterson says the outside donor reflects Utahns' desires.

"Polling that we've done and others have done indicate that Utahns very much want choice . . . a movement that is sweeping across the nation," Peterson said. "It's not an outside special-interest group; it's a shared interest in putting the control of children's education in the hands of parents where it belongs."

The UEA's PAC report, on the other hand, includes pages of donors who typically gave in $70 to $100 increments. The union this year raised about $26,300 that way.

But it has $422,350 in its account. That's after it reported $106,500 in expenditures, including a $17,550 in-kind contribution to Matheson. Other spending includes administrative expenses, fund-raisers for both political parties, and primary election campaigns — including candidates opposed by Parents for Choice in Education.