STATE: State Superintendent of Public Instruction – 2026 Primary Election – DANGER!!!

VOTER GUIDE – QUICK LINKS TO:

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS RACE!

This is a great chance for the MAGA folks to get their hands on our educational system!
MAGA-world has put all their eggs into one toxic basket – “Moms For Liberty”-endorsed Sonja Shaw, and they are hoping that we fritter away our votes on 9 other candidates.

This is why we pay particular attention to “non-partisan” races. These are the openings where the book banners and worse sneak into public office.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Vote for (1)

(There are 10 candidates for this post. However, to qualify for the forum in the video below, candidates must have been elected to a public office with a role in shaping education policy and/or overseeing schools and only six met that requirement. Only six met those qualifications. Even though it mentions a video happening the next day, this is actually a compilation of both videos, containing two 1-hour segments with a total of six candidates.)

(https://youtu.be/JXJhKhQLHAc?si=nDdrD-rSth7yVTxZ)

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(EdSource.org) “Almost a third (32%) of likely voters said they did not know who they would vote for in the race for state superintendent of public instruction. The rest were split among the 10 candidates — mostly within the survey’s margin of error — with 9% saying they would vote for Ainye Long, a public school teacher from San Francisco who has not run an active campaign, and 9% for Anthony Rendon, the former speaker of the California Assembly. 

Two school board members — Richard Barrera of the San Diego Unified School District and Sonja Shaw, president of Chino Valley Unified School District — each had 7%; Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and former State Sen. Josh Newman received 6%. Nichelle Henderson, board member of the Los Angeles Community College District, had 5%.

Calling the race “a sleeper outside of the education community,” Barrett Snyder, a partner with Capitol Advisors Group, a government relations firm for public schools, estimated it would take $15 million to $20 million for a candidate to get the awareness it would take to ensure a win.  

At this point, no candidate has raised even a 10th of that amount. Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has collected $1.2 million, and Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi is second with about half of that amount.

The California Teachers Association, the dominant funding source in past state superintendent elections, has endorsed Richard Barrera, the veteran San Diego Unified school board member, but he has raised only about $180,000 so far — though that could change.”

  • WHAT DOES A SUPERINTENDENT DO, ANYWAY? This is a non-partisan office. Local school districts in California largely control budget and curriculum decisions, leaving the state’s superintendent with limited authority. The state is now considering shifting some of the office’s responsibilities to the governor-appointed State Board of Education, shrinking the role even further. Still, the new superintendent will have a statewide platform to promote policies and a record $150 billion budget for nearly 6 million public school students.
  • READING:

ENDORSED Richard Barrera (D) – State Superintendent Advisor

RECOMMENDATION: YES. He had us at the HUGE recommendation from the guy who’s already doing this job – Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

He also has an extensive list of other endorsements, including loads of elected and public officials (most school based), school administrators, the Bee family of newspapers, Democratic clubs, a number of unions (most importantly, the California Teachers Assn).

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Sample of huge list of endorsements here:


CA Teachers association(UASC) United Administrators Southern California

Administrators Association San Diego City Schools
AACV) Administrators Association Chula Vista
Administrators Association Sweetwater Union

From his website:

“Richard Barrera’s track record of achieving student success is unmatched. That’s why I asked him to join us at the California Department of Education — to share San Diego Unified’s accomplishments throughout the state. And that’s why I support him in this election.”

– Tony Thurmond, Current California Superintendent of Public Instruction

Excerpts from Candidate Statement in the Voter Guide: As President of San Diego Unified School District, we’ve achieved success by cutting waste and bureaucracy, and investing directly in our students, families and educators. I successfully asked voters 4 times to replace 60-year-old buildings with state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable schools. We increased educator salaries by 40%, provided full family healthcare and created thousands of affordable homes for our families and educators. I’ve fought to protect students from the heartless Trump administration: keeping ICE out of our schools, standing up for LGBTQ students, and testifying before Congress against Trump’s drastic cuts to education.

  • San Diego County School Board Member of the Year – San Diego County School Boards Association
  • Service Humanitarian Award – Barrio Station
  • Executive Director’s Award – San Diego Education Association
  • Labor Leader of the Year – San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council
  • Harvey Milk Leadership Award – San Diego LGBT Center
  • Visionary Leader Award – Center on Policy Initiatives
  • Legislative Champion Award – California Association of International Baccalaureate World Schools
  • Legislator of the Year – San Diego County Democratic Party

Priorities from Website: invest in and support teachers, expand early childhood education, increase funding for schools and hold schools accountable for spending, help communities organize to pass school bonds, make housing affordable for educators, protect students from bullying, support non-college vocational training, prioritize mental health

(kpbs.org) “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. 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.“

(sacbee.com) Barrera has helped a diverse, working-class district that is one of the top-performing large urban systems in the country. San Diego now ranks first among large districts in reading and math, with graduation rates exceeding 90%. But again, labor politics reign supreme in California public schools. As EdSource reminded us recently, no one has been elected superintendent of public instruction in California for more than 40 years without the support of the California Teachers Association. And though it had no bearing on our endorsement, CTA endorsed Barrera to succeed Tony Thurmond as state superintendent of public instruction over much bigger names in California politics. It’s easy to see why. Barrera helped raise graduation requirements so that all students, including first-generation and immigrant students, could qualify for UC and CSU admission. Critics predicted failure. Instead, students delivered. But Barrera also focused on the adults in the system. Under his leadership, teacher salaries increased by 50%, health benefits were fully covered and retention soared. More than 90% of teachers remain in the district, far above national averages. That instinct to listen, to convene, to build is exactly what this job requires. We applaud Barrera for taking care of the teachers in his district, who deserve to be paid well. But for him to succeed as superintendent, no matter what shape the job takes, Barrera must put just as much emphasis on reducing an achievement gap that is leaving Black and brown kids in California behind.

Reading:

  • (CTA) Elect Richard Barrera for California Superintendent of Public Instruction

Nichelle M. Henderson – College Trustee/Teacher

RECOMMENDATION: No. Reluctantly. She is our second choice after the far more experienced candidate, Richard Barrera. She has an extensive endorsement list, but teacher union endorsements went elsewhere.

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(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlDeDpTA4sM)

  • Name: Nichelle Henderson
  • Party: No Party Preference
  • Current job title: Faculty Advisor
  • Age: 57
  • Incumbent: No
  • Other political positions held: LA County Party delegate (2016- Present), LA Community College Board Trustee (2020 – Present)
  • City where you reside: Gardena
  • Campaign website or social media: hendersonforcasuperintendent.org

Sample of huge list of endorsements here:

dem. party of san fernando
California Young Democrats
Ventura County Young Democrats
Next Gen Politics California
NATIONAL WOMEN'S CAUCUSCalifornia's Women's list

(retired)
There are a LOT listed.
Check the endorsement page.

“…“I’m the only candidate with K-12, community college and university experience,” she said. “That’s important because you have students that are graduating high school, that are going into the workforce, going to higher education, and having a deep understanding of what that transition looks like and what preparation looks like is pivotal.”

(kpbs.org)“Henderson is a Los Angeles Community College District trustee with a strong union background. A longtime teacher, she supports expanded health access in schools and standardized testing reform. She also supports divesting state pensions from fossil fuels and “the U.S. war machine.”

READING:

  • (OCregister) Nichelle M. Henderson, California superintendent of public instruction candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire
  • (EdSource) Meet the State Superintendent candidates: Nichelle Henderson, educator and community college trustee

Wendy Castaneda Leal – School District Superintendent

RECOMMENDATION: Nope. We don’t believe she’s the best qualified candidate for this position at this time.

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Frank Lara – Teacher/Union VP

RECOMMENDATION: Nope. We love his video – he seems like a very nice sincere guy – but we don’t believe he’s the best qualified candidate for this position.

Don’t split this vote! Look who’s going to get ALL the GOP votes and vote strategically.

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We love his video – he seems like a very nice sincere guy – but we don’t believe he’s the best qualified candidate for this position.

  • Name: 
  • Party: No Party Preference
  • Current job title: 
  • Age:
  • Incumbent: 
  • Political Party: Socialist
  • City where you reside: 
  • Campaign website or social media: https://www.frank4caschools.com

Note, we don’t agree with their top pick, but find their comments on other candidates interesting: (knock-la.com) Here we’d recommend a vote for Frank Lara, a teacher and union leader from San Francisco. Lara is an organizer and open socialist, who seeks to not only fully fund public schools but also to build a path to free childcare and adult education as well. He also opposes the presence of police in schools, accurately viewing them as part of the school-to-prison pipeline and a source of harm to Black and brown students. Nichelle Henderson and Richard Barrera both also have strong platforms, but Lara is our top pick. 

Less desirable candidates are former assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Anthony Rendon. Muratsuchi’s checkered record included voting against a bill to prevent the transfer of imprisoned people to ICE custody. Rendon, as assembly speaker, directly helped kill single-payer healthcare for California, letting Governor Newsom off the hook for a campaign promise he never cared to fulfill. Neither deserve this responsibility. Also in the race is Sonja Shaw, an anti-LGBTQ+ maniac who has no business being near or responsible for children.

Ainye Long – Public School Teacher – NOPE!

RECOMMENDATION: Nope. Lovely website, but no endorsements, and we don’t believe she’s the best qualified candidate for this position.

Don’t split this vote! Look who’s going to get ALL the GOP votes and vote strategically.

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Lovely website, but no endorsements, and we don’t believe she’s the best qualified candidate for this position.

  • Name: Ainye Long
  • Current job title: 
  • Age:
  • Incumbent: 
  • Other political positions held: 
  • City where you reside: 
  • Campaign website or social media: https://ainyelong4ca.com
NO ENDORSEMENTS

Gus Mattammal – Educator/Executive/Author – SERIOUSLY – NOPE!

RECOMMENDATION: Nope. We don’t support candidates whose first solution is NOT to equitably fund ALL schools, but to remove more kids from schools in poorer districts, along with their funding, and sending them to for-profit options or to uncontrolled options, like home-schooling.

He’s endorsed by Republicans and Libertarians, and NO teacher unions. Don’t waste your vote here.

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Sample of endorsements:

Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN)Libertarian Party of Santa Clara CountyAlameda County
Tom Rubin, CPA, Government Finance Consultant (NPP)		Marc Joffe, President, Contra Costa County Taxpayers Association (L)
Pete Leveroni, Rotarian (R)- Kern Co.Mark Wyland, former State Senator (R) – San DiegoJason Clark, former Bay Area Vice Chair (R)Gina Tse-Louie, Community Organizer (NPP)

Out of 25 personal endorsements, 14 are from Republicans, (4) are NPP, (6) are Democrats and (1) from the Contra Coast County Taxpayers Association is a libertarian. We are not major fans of libertarians.

(kpbs.org)”Mattammal runs a tutoring company in Silicon Valley and supports charter schools, homeschooling and other alternatives to traditional public schools.“

“(rwcpulse – article from 2024) As far as politics go, Mattammal is relatively new to the party. Unlike his three primary opponents, who are all Democrats, he has not held an elective office or a job as a staffer. He’s also new to the Republican Party— he joined the GOP just five days before an uprising at the U.S. Capitol made many observers and politicians question what the party stands for.

For Mattammal, 49, it means leveraging the private sector to solve public problems and tackle education reform, climate change and health care. 

As a tutor, he is particularly passionate about education. His local school, Roosevelt High School, had a graduation rate of about 25% in the late 1980s, and none of his childhood friends had graduated, Mattammal said in a recent interview.

“I watched an entire generation of low-income, overwhelmingly minority kids fed into a public school that doesn’t work. It fails to do what it’s trying to do,” Mattammal said.

However, he wants to make it clear that he does not oppose public education. Public schools, he said, are one of the things that made this country great.

“But believing in public education doesn’t necessarily mean that I believe that every individual public school out there or that the system, as currently constructed, is the best public school system that we can possibly have,” he said.

His primary solution is setting up educational savings accounts for lower-income individuals that would enable them to pursue other school options if their local schools are failing them. The goal, he said, is to give people more options when it comes to education. Today, individuals with higher incomes already have the option of leaving a public school system if it’s not performing well. Only the lower-income families don’t have that, he said. The government would play a role in subsidizing these accounts and opening up more choices.”

Yep. Definitely a Republican.

Al Muratsuchi – Assemblymember/Classroom Educator

RECOMMENDATION: Nope. He has teacher union endorsements but we agree with this assessment: “Muratsuchi seems to be using this more as a stepping stone: He has the educational background and endorsements, and some good ideas, but his main credential is being a state assembly critter.”

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  • Name: Al Muratsuchi
  • Party: No Party Preference
  • Current job title: Assemblymember, college teacher
  • Age:
  • Incumbent: 
  • Other political positions held: 
  • City where you reside: 
  • Campaign website or social media: https://www.alforcaliforniaschools.com/

(kpbs.org) “Muratsuchi is an assemblymember from Los Angeles’ South Bay area and a former chair of the Assembly Education Committee. With former state Sen. Joshua Newman, he co-authored Prop. 2, the successful $10 billion school facilities bond. He also serves as an adjunct government professor at El Camino College, and previously worked as a deputy attorney general with the state Department of Justice.“

Josh Newman – Educator/Strategic Advisor

RECOMMENDATION: Nope.  Was a K-12 teacher for only two years. This feels like a stepping stone to higher office.

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  • Josh Newman
  • Party: No Party Preference
  • Age: 
  • City of residence: 
  • Occupation: Educator, strategic adviser
  • Education: –
  • Funding:
  • Instagram: instagram.com/
  • Website: https://newmanforspi.com/meet-josh/

Sample of endorsements:

(kpbs.org)”Newman, a former state senator, is a former chair of the state Senate Education Committee who now serves as a fellow at UC Irvine. With Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, he co-authored Prop. 2, the successful $10 billion school facilities bond. Prior to entering politics, Newman, an Army veteran, founded an organization that helps vets transition to the civilian workforce.“

Anthony Rendon – Democracy Advocate/Educator

RECOMMENDATION: No.  We still think Barerra’s the better candidate.

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  • Name: 
  • Party: No Party Preference
  • Current job title: Former Assembly Speaker
  • Age:
  • Incumbent: 
  • Other political positions held: 
  • City where you reside: 
  • Campaign website or social media: https://www.anthonyrendon.org/

(kpbs.org)”Rendon served as speaker of the Assembly from 2016 to 2023, where he shepherded major K-12 funding increases, universal transitional kindergarten and charter school accountability. Before entering politics, he ran an early childhood program in Los Angeles for 20 years. Early childhood education continues to be a priority, he says.“

Sample of his endorsements below.

GUN SENSE CANDIDATE
Liana
SEIU 2015
CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSSTATEWIDE OFFICERS
Pete Aguilar, CongressmanEleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor
Judy Chu, Congresswoman
Laura Friedman, Congresswoman
Robert Garcia, Congressman
Sam Liccardo, Congressman
Kevin Mullin, Congressman
Luz Rivas, Congresswoman
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE MEMBERSCALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS
Sabrina Cervantes, State SenatorEloise Gomez Reyes, State Senator
Dr. Joaquin Arambula, AssemblymemberIssac Bryan, Assemblymember
Juan Carrillo, AssemblymemberMike Gipson, Assemblymember
Gregg Hart, AssemblymemberAlex Lee, Assemblymember
Josh Lowenthal, AssemblymemberTina McKinnor, Assemblymember
Michelle Rodriguez, AssemblymemberJosé Luis Solache, Jr., Assemblymember
Chris Ward, AssemblymemberFabian Núñez, Assembly Speaker (ret.)

Sonja Shaw – School District President – MOMS FOR LIBERTY CANDIDATE!!!

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

RECOMMENDATION: Nope.  And we will add the totally gratuitous “YIKES” and our patented “WARNING” tape signal that this person’s access to the public schools should be minimized for the safety of LGBTQ+ students and the freedom to learn for all students.

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  • Name: 
  • Party: No Party Preference
  • Current job title: School district president
  • Age:
  • Incumbent: 
  • Other political positions held: 
  • City where you reside: 
  • Campaign website or social media: https://shawforca.com

Sample of her endorsements here:

Sen. John M.W. Moorlach (Ret.)Steve HiltonChad Bianco
Riley Gaines
Epic sore loser 		Carl DeMaioKen Calvert
United States Representative
Leticia Castillo
California State Assemblywoman		Diane Dixon
California State Assemblywoman
Former Mayor, City of Newport Beach		Stan Ellis
California State Assemblyman
Heath Flora
California State Assembly Republican Leader		James Gallagher
California State Assemblyman
Former Assembly Republican Leader		Tony Strickland
California State Senator
Former Mayor, City of Huntington Beach

5 STARS! Holy smokes!!! She is a scary candidate indeed!!!

(kpbs.org) “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 a shift away from “radical ideologies” in the classroom and a return to the academic basics.”

  • (bluevoterguide.org) Candidate’s platform and school board actions are in alignment with Moms for Liberty (on whose web-site candidate is listed as having taken a pledge to adhere to their platform), a far-right organization that engages in anti student-inclusion activities, identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement, and promotes book bans.
  • Endorsed by the state Republican Party.
  • In 2025, candidate attended a track meet, notifying attendees of a trans-athlete on the field and protesting her presence.
  • In 2023, candidate pressed Chino Valley School District to adopt a parental notification policy requiring staff to inform parents within three days if they become aware of a student asking to go by names or pronouns or to use bathrooms that do not match their biological sex. Such policies were subsequently ruled illegal by the state.
  • Candidate proposed revision of the district’s library media center policy that allows parents to challenge “non-curricular reading materials.”  (ie “book banning”)

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