Tony Thurmond

Last updated
Tony Thurmond
Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (cropped).jpg
28th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Thurmond speaking at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention Tony Thurmond (48002898206).jpg
Thurmond speaking at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention

Thurmond's first bill to be signed into law was AB 1375, which increases the rate of credit for time served incarcerated in lieu of paying court fines. This credit had not been adjusted since its inception in 1976; this bill adjusts it for inflation and the minimum wage. [15] Thurmond's AB 1496 requires the California Air Resources Board to measure and reduce methane emissions to help curb greenhouse gas emissions statewide. [16] AB 1343 helps ensure due process for defendants who are immigrants; it was part of a package of legislation focused on protecting undocumented immigrants. [17] AB 768 bans use or possession of smokeless tobacco products in California's five professional baseball stadiums. [18] AB 2X-9, the Tobacco-Free Schools Act, co-authored by Thurmond and Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, bans tobacco use on all school district-owned or school-leased property. This bill also mandates that schools post signs reading "tobacco use is prohibited" at entrances. [19]

Thurmond's legislation AB 435 was the first piece of legislation sponsored by the First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission. The bill was signed by Governor Brown and provides more subsidies to early childcare services for low-income families in multiple California counties. [20] Thurmond's legislation AB 1014 moved $35 million from the California prison system directly to local school districts to invest in programs to reduce truancy. [21] Another bill of Thurmond's, AB 1502, reduced paperwork to provide free and reduced lunch to more eligible California students. Previously, only 63% of eligible students were matched to the free and reduced lunch program. [22]

As Chair of the Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, Thurmond helped secure resources in the California State Budget for county welfare offices for Medi-Cal eligibility administration, caregiver resource centers, medical clinics to extend urgent care hours, an HIV prevention outreach program, syringe exchange programs and mental health advocacy especially for veterans, youth and racial and ethnic minorities.[ citation needed ]

On September 15, 2017, Thurmond introduced a resolution in the California State Assembly calling for the Congressional censure of President Donald Trump following his remarks after racially charged events in Charlottesville. [23]

Tony Thurmond received a score of 100% on both the Equality California [24] and California League of Conservation Voters [25] legislative score cards for 2016.

State Assembly committees

For 2015–2016, Thurmond was a member of the following committees: [26]

Select committees

State Superintendent

On April 3, 2017, Thurmond launched his campaign for State Superintendent, choosing not to run for re-election for his seat in the State Assembly. [27] [28] His campaign was supported by California's teachers' unions. [29] He won the November 2018 election, beating opponent Marshall Tuck, a Democrat and charter school advocate. [29]

On December 11, 2021, Politico reported that Thurmond had been instrumental in the July 2020 hiring of longtime associate Daniel Lee, "a psychologist, life coach and self-help author", for the position of "superintendent of equity" for the California Department of Education (CDE). Politico reported that the hiring of Lee, a Philadelphia resident up to when the report was published, appeared to violate California's residency requirement for state employees, which allows for few exceptions. [30] The position was never posted publicly, having been initially funded by part of a $700,000 grant by the Hewlett Foundation through the CDE's nonprofit affiliate "Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation" before being funded by California taxpayers, and paid up to a $179,832 salary; the report said Lee's resume showed no prior experience in California or relationships with school districts in the state. [30] On December 14, 2021, Lee resigned from the position. [31]

2026 Gubernatorial Run

In September 26, 2023, Thurmond announced via Twitter, his intention to run for Governor of California in 2026. [32]

Personal life

Thurmond was introduced to Judaism by his cousins who practiced Hebrew Pentecostalism, and he maintains a connection to Jewish practice and community, guided by Rabbi Rebekah Stern of Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, California. [4] He describes himself as "a convert who’s never been through a formal conversion," and his Jewish identity informs his public service, including his work on Holocaust education and fighting antisemitism in California schools. [4]

Thurmond lives in Richmond, California. [33] He has two daughters. [33] [34]

Electoral history

2014

California's 15th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Elizabeth Echols 21,664 31.1
Democratic Tony Thurmond 16,963 24.4
Democratic Pamela Price 11,89817.1
Republican Rich Kinney7,53110.8
Democratic Sam Kang4,6306.7
Democratic Clarence Hunt3,3294.8
Peace and Freedom Eugene E. Ruyle2,4263.5
No party preference Bernt Rainer Wahl1,1321.6
Total votes69,573 100.0
General election
Democratic Tony Thurmond 66,661 54.3
Democratic Elizabeth Echols56,07145.7
Total votes122,732 100.0
Democratic hold

2016

California's 15th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tony Thurmond (incumbent)124,13691.1
Republican Claire Chiara12,0838.9
Total votes136,219 100.0
General election
Democratic Tony Thurmond (incumbent) 189,530 89.4
Republican Claire Chiara22,52810.6
Total votes212,058 100.0
Democratic hold

2018

2018 Superintendent of Public Instruction election [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Marshall Tuck 2,223,784 37.0
Nonpartisan Tony Thurmond 2,136,919 35.6
Nonpartisan Lily Ploski 984,93216.4
Nonpartisan Steven Ireland658,78611.0
Nonpartisan Marco Amaral547,3898.7
Nonpartisan Douglas I. Vigil (write-in)830.0
Nonpartisan Thomas L. Williams (write-in)660.0
Total votes6,004,570 100.0
Superintendent of Public Instruction runoff election [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Tony Thurmond 5,385,912 50.9
Nonpartisan Marshall Tuck 5,198,73849.1
Total votes10,584,650 100.0

2022

2022 Superintendent of Public Instruction election [37] [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Tony Thurmond (incumbent) 2,881,684 45.9
Nonpartisan Lance Christensen 745,003 11.9
Nonpartisan Ainye E. Long699,33111.1
Nonpartisan George Yang694,07311.1
Nonpartisan Marco Amaral547,3898.7
Nonpartisan Jim Gibson468,0787.5
Nonpartisan Joseph Guy Campbell241,9843.9
Total votes6,277,542 100.0
Superintendent of Public Instruction runoff election [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Tony Thurmond (incumbent) 5,681,315 63.7
Nonpartisan Lance Christensen3,237,78036.3
Total votes8,919,085 100.0

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References

  1. ↑ Gammon, Robert. "Tony Thurmond Wins State Superintendent of Schools Race", East Bay Express. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ "California's 5 Statewide Teachers of the Year for 2018 Endorse Tony Thurmond for State Superintendent". No. 17 Oct 2018. YubaNet.com.
  3. ↑ "Tony Thurmond Wins California Democratic Party Endorsement in Landslide". 26 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fishkoff, Sue (August 2, 2024). "California schools superintendent Tony Thurmond on his deep Jewish attachments— and the coming school year". The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  5. ↑ "CA Assembly District 15" . Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Meet Tony - Tony Thurmond". Tony Thurmond. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  7. ↑ Tascio, Liz (August 15, 2004). "Political races should be full of character; Contra County County's ballot shows well-known names and familiar faces hot issues mark dramatic election for candidates". Contra Costa Times.
  8. ↑ "Local election results; Contra Costa". San Francisco Chronicle. November 9, 2006.
  9. ↑ Oakley, Doug (June 3, 2008). "Skinner holds lead in Assembly District 14 race". Contra Costa Times.
  10. ↑ Wetzel, Kimberly S. (November 4, 2008). "West Contra Costa school board: Medrano, Thurmond win, defeating Pfeifer". Contra Costa Times.
  11. ↑ Wetzel, Kim (June 22, 2008). "West County school board member mulling state Senate run". Contra Costa Times.
  12. ↑ Oakley, Doug (November 5, 2014). "Assembly District 15: Tony Thurmond credits upset victory to daily precinct walks". Contra Costa Times.
  13. ↑ "California District 15 State Assembly Results: Tony Thurmond Wins". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  14. ↑ Resmovits, Joy. "Assemblyman Tony Thurmond enters the state superintendent for public instruction race as a Trump foe". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  15. ↑ "Assemblymember Tony Thurmond's First Bill Signed Into Law - Assemblymember Tony Thurmond Representing the 15th California Assembly District". asmdc.org. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  16. ↑ "Thurmond Moves California a Step toward its Environmental Goals - Assemblymember Tony Thurmond Representing the 15th California Assembly District". asmdc.org. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  17. ↑ "Thurmond Bill To Ensure Due Process for Immigrant Defendants Signed Into Law - Assemblymember Tony Thurmond Representing the 15th California Assembly District". asmdc.org. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  18. ↑ "A Homerun for the Kids: Smokeless Tobacco Banned from Professional Baseball Stadiums - Assemblymember Tony Thurmond Representing the 15th California Assembly District". asmdc.org. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  19. ↑ "Schools Are Now Tobacco-Free - Assemblymember Tony Thurmond Representing the 15th California Assembly District". asmdc.org. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  20. ↑ Casey, Sean (17 Oct 2017). "AB435 will improve child care subsidies in Contra Costa". First 5 Contra Costa. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "Thurmond's Student Absenteeism Law Generates $35 Million for Schools". Oakland Post. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  22. ↑ "Governor Signs Thurmond´s Access Free And Reduced Lunch Law". Oakland Post. 27 July 2017.
  23. ↑ Corpuz, Mina (15 September 2017). "California Assembly votes to support censure of Trump over comments on Charlottesville violence". Los Angeles Times.
  24. ↑ "EQCA Legislative Scorecard 2015" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "California Environmental Scorecard". scorecard.ecovote.org. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  26. ↑ "Thurmond Committees 2015–2016". California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Thurmond Launches Campaign for State Superintendent with Major Endorsement of Senator Kamala Harris". 3 April 2017.
  28. ↑ Savidge, Nico. "California superintendent candidates oppose big money from special interests". EdSource. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  29. 1 2 Cano, Ricardo (18 November 2018). "Tony Thurmond is the new schools chief. Now what?". Calmatters.
  30. 1 2 "He was hired to fix California schools — while running a business in Philadelphia". Politico . 11 December 2021.
  31. ↑ "California education official resigns amid criticism over East Coast residency, hiring process". Politico . 14 December 2021.
  32. ↑ "x.com".
  33. 1 2 "Tony Thurmond State Superintendent of Public Instruction". California Department of Education.
  34. ↑ "Tony Thurmond Becomes State Superintendent of Public Instruction, first Afro Latino and second African American to Hold Job". California Department of Education. January 7, 2019.
  35. ↑ "California June 7, 2022 Primary Statement of Vote" (PDF). Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  36. ↑ "General Election - Statement of the Vote, November 8, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  37. ↑ "CERTIFIED LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE JUNE 7, 2022, PRIMARY ELECTION" (PDF). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  38. ↑ "Statement of Vote | June 7, 2022 Primary Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of California . July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Statement of Vote | November 8, 2022 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of California . December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
Political offices
Preceded by California Superintendent of Public Instruction
2019–present		Incumbent
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