Superintendent of Public Instruction
Local school districts in California largely control their own budgets and curriculum decisions, leaving the state’s superintendent with limited authority. The superintendent will have even less power under a new law that shifts authority to the governor’s office. Starting in 2027, a governor-appointed “education commissioner” will run the Department of Education and many of the superintendent’s duties will be transferred to the state school board. Still, the new superintendent will have a statewide platform to promote policies that affect nearly 6 million public school students. The office is nonpartisan.
Candidates
Richard Barrera
Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified school board, was little known outside San Diego until he won the endorsement of the powerful California Teachers Association union. As a Sacramento outsider, he says he can bring a fresh perspective to the job, focusing on boosting school funding, early childhood education and easing the path to becoming a teacher.
Sonja Shaw
President of the Chino Valley School Board, Shaw has been an outspoken opponent of protections for transgender students. She made headlines in 2023 when she presided over a school board meeting where State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was escorted out during a debate over transgender student rights. Shaw also supports shifting away from “radical ideologies” in the classroom and returning to academic basics.
Endorsements
Richard Barrera
Fundraising
Direct contributions
Candidates must disclose large donors if they give $100 or more over the course of the campaign. Small donors give less than $100; we have excluded them from the contributor tables.
- Large donors
- Small donors
- Self-funding
- Funding difference
Richard Barrera
Sonja Shaw
Outside spending
Groups not coordinating with candidates must report money they spend to influence elections.
- Support
- Oppose
- Spending difference
Richard Barrera
