Wikipedia

2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election

The 2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election began on June 2, 2026 and will conclude on November 3, 2026, to elect the next Superintendent of Public Instruction of California. Unlike most other elections in the state, the office is not elected under the state's top-two primary system. Instead, the officially nonpartisan position is elected at a primary election, with a runoff at a general election if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.[1]

2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election
← 2022
June 2, 2026 (first round)
November 3, 2026 (runoff)
2030 →
 
Candidate Sonja Shaw Richard Barrera Nichelle Henderson
Primary 1,736,867
22.6%		 1,557,504
20.3%		 737,860
9.6%
Runoff TBD TBD Eliminated
 
Candidate Wendy Castaneda Leal Al Muratsuchi Anthony Rendon
Primary 675,605
8.8%		 645,983
8.4%		 623,917
8.1%
 
Candidate Frank Lara Josh Newman Ainye Long
Primary 577,802
7.5%		 522,496
6.8%		 425,839
5.6%
Shaw:      10–20%      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%
Barrera:      20–30%      30–40%
Incumbent Superintendent

Tony Thurmond


Incumbent Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, is term-limited and ran for governor.[2][3]

Candidates

edit

The Superintendent of Public Instruction election in California is officially nonpartisan. The parties below identify which party label each candidate would have run under if given the option.

Advanced to runoff

edit

Eliminated in primary

edit

Withdrawn

edit

Primary election

edit

Endorsements

edit
Richard Barrera (D)

U.S. representatives

State legislators

Labor unions

Newspapers

Nichelle Henderson (D)

U.S. representatives

State legislators

County officials

Organizations

Frank Lara (PFP)

Labor unions

  • United Educators of San Francisco[13]

Political parties

Al Muratsuchi (D)

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Municipal officials

Labor unions

Newspapers

Josh Newman (D)

U.S. representatives

State legislators

Municipal officials

Labor unions

Anthony Rendon (D)

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Local officials

Individuals

Labor unions

Results

edit
2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election[43]
Candidate Votes %
Sonja Shaw 1,736,867 22.6
Richard Barrera 1,557,504 20.3
Nichelle Henderson 737,860 9.6
Wendy Castaneda Leal 675,605 8.8
Al Muratsuchi 645,983 8.4
Anthony Rendon 623,917 8.1
Frank Lara 577,802 7.5
Josh Newman 522,496 6.8
Ainye Long 425,839 5.6
Gus Mattammal 167,605 2.2
Total votes 7,671,478 100.0

Runoff

edit

Endorsements

edit
Richard Barrera (D)

Statewide officials

State legislators

Results

edit
2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction runoff election
Candidate Votes %
Richard Barrera
Sonja Shaw
Total votes

Notes

edit

References

edit
  1. ↑ https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/qualifications-requirements/2026-spi.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ↑ "California education chief Tony Thurmond says he is running for governor in 2026". Associated Press. September 26, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  3. ↑ Jones, Blake (September 26, 2023). "How labor could make or break Tony Thurmond's campaign for California governor". POLITICO. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ He, Eric; Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (May 12, 2025). "The Trump factor in the state budget". Politico. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ Horseman, Jeff (March 15, 2025). "Chino Valley school board President Sonja Shaw to run for state superintendent of public instruction". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Tat, Linh (April 15, 2025). "LACCD Trustee Nichelle Henderson wants to be California's top schools chief". Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nixon, Nicole (July 28, 2025). "Former California Democratic leader plans a political comeback". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "2026 California Primary Notice to Candidates - State Superintendent of Public Instruction" (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Gus Mattammal files to run for California Superintendent of Public Instruction". Cal-Access. September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Mason, Melanie; Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (February 18, 2025). "Young Kim challenger is steeped in school culture wars". Politico. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (April 11, 2025). "Former Sen. Josh Newman is now running for California's schools chief". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Fensterwald, John (January 27, 2026). "Labor unions split among Democratic candidates for state superintendent". EdSource. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Russell, Lia (April 22, 2026). "Your guide to California's state superintendent primary race". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 26, 2026). "Another killing in Minneapolis sharpens SF DA's warning". Politico. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Read McClatchy Media's endorsement for California's state superintendent | Opinion". The Sacramento Bee. April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Endorsement: California needs a school superintendent who puts kids first. Here's our pick". San Francisco Chronicle. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  17. ↑ "The Ballot: Who We're Recommending For on June 2". Sun-Reporter. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ Jones, LaNiece (August 24, 2025). "2025/2026 Candidate Endorsements". Black Women Organized for Political Action. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Endorsements". California Young Democrats. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Endorsements June 2026 Primary Endorsement Process". Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ "CA School Board Races". Our Revolution. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  22. ↑ "2026 Stonewall Endorsed Candidates". Stonewall Democrats. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Left Unity has begun for the June 2026 primary election". December 18, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  24. ↑ Bernstein, David (September 3, 2025). "United Educators of San Francisco endorses its executive vice president, Frank Lara, for state superintendent of public instruction; Lara is a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation". North American Values Institute. Retrieved December 13, 2025 – via Substack.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Allen, James Preston (July 16, 2025). "Senate Majority Leader & Others Endorse Muratsuchi for State Superintendent". Random Lengths News. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Muratsuchi Launches Campaign for State Superintendent of Schools". Rafu Shimpo. April 7, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  27. 1 2 "California Federation of Labor Unions Endorse for Governor and Other Statewide Races for 2026 Primary Election". March 16, 2026. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  28. ↑ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 21, 2026). "Newsom takes his Trump-bashing to the Swiss Alps". Politico. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Editorial: Recommendations for CA offices". Bay Area Reporter. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Chmielewski, Dan (July 23, 2025). "Congressman Gil Cisneros, Decorated Veteran and Education Advocate, Throws Support Behind Josh Newman for State Superintendent of Public Instruction". The Liberal OC. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  31. ↑ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (December 17, 2025). "Meet the crypto billionaire hedging his bets for governor". Politico. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  32. 1 2 Holden, Lindsey (September 9, 2025). "Newsom: The state of the state is 'menaced' by Trump". Politico. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  33. ↑ Wu, Amelia; Nixon, Nicole (September 5, 2025). "Clean California effort fills thousands of trucks with trash". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  34. 1 2 3 "What Cesar Chavez's biographer says now". POLITICO. March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Endorsements". California Faculty Association. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  36. ↑ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 22, 2026). "Newsom, Wiener and POLITICO's new firepower in LA". Politico. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  37. ↑ "SEIU-UHW 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  38. ↑ California Legislative Committee for Moms for Liberty [@callegcommittee] (August 12, 2025). "As an organization, we proudly endorse Sonja Shaw for her unwavering leadership". Retrieved December 13, 2025 – via Instagram.
  39. ↑ "2026 Executive Candidates". California Rifle & Pistol Association. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  40. ↑ Republican Party, California (April 12, 2026). "The California Republican Party has endorsed @realSonjaShaw for State Superintendent of Public Instruction". California Republican Party. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  41. ↑ City, News Service (April 12, 2026). "State Republicans fail to endorse candidate for governor". ABC10 News San Diego. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Endorsement: Patrick Wolff for California insurance commissioner". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. April 26, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  43. ↑ "California Superintendent of Public Instruction Election Results". The New York Times. June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  44. ↑ Lambert, Diana (June 10, 2026). "Shaw and Barrera offer starkly different visions for California schools". EdSource. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  45. ↑ Blume, Howard (June 5, 2026). "Shaw and Barrera advance to run-off for state schools superintendent". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2026_California_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction_election&oldid=1362226837"