2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election

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2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election
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Incumbent Superintendent

Tony Thurmond



The 2026 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election will take place on June 2, 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 nonpartisan blanket primary system. Instead, the officially nonpartisan is elected via a general election, with a runoff scheduled for November 3, 2026 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.

Contents

Incumbent Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, is term-limited and running for governor. [1] [2]

Candidates

Declared

Potential

Filed paperwork

Candidates who have established fundraising committees with the California Secretary of State. [11]

Endorsements

Nichelle Henderson
State legislators
County officials
Organizations
Al Muratsuchi
Statewide officials
State legislators
Anthony Rendon
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "California education chief Tony Thurmond says he is running for governor in 2026". Associated Press . September 26, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
    2. ↑ Jones, Blake (September 26, 2023). "How labor could make or break Tony Thurmond's campaign for California governor". POLITICO . Retrieved November 26, 2024.
    3. ↑ He, Eric; Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (May 12, 2025). "The Trump factor in the state budget". Politico . Retrieved May 12, 2025.
    4. 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.
    5. ↑ Lambert, Diana (May 13, 2025). "Longtime educator jumps into race for superintendent of public instruction". EdSource. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. ↑ 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.
    9. ↑ 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.
    10. ↑ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (February 28, 2025). "Look away, Mike McGuire!". Politico . Retrieved February 28, 2025.
    11. ↑ "CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Candidates & Elected Officials". California Secretary of State . Retrieved January 14, 2025.
    12. ↑ BWOPA PAC [@bwopa_pac] (August 29, 2025). "EXCITING: We are thrilled to endorse @henderson4casuperintendent for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction" . Retrieved September 18, 2025– via Instagram.
    13. 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.
    14. 1 2 Holden, Lindsey (September 9, 2025). "Newsom: The state of the state is 'menaced' by Trump". Politico . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
    15. ↑ Wu, Amelia; Nixon, Nicole (September 5, 2025). "Clean California effort fills thousands of trucks with trash". The Sacramento Bee . Retrieved September 10, 2025.

    Official campaign links

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