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.

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

Candidates 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 Richard Barrera (Democratic), San Diego Unified School District Board member Sonja Shaw (Republican), president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board

Eliminated in primary Nichelle Henderson (Democratic), Los Angeles Community College District trustee Frank Lara (Peace and Freedom), education union leader Wendy Castaneda Leal, superintendent of Semitropic Elementary School District Ainye Long, teacher Gus Mattammal (Republican), candidate for in 2022, and candidate for California's 23rd State Assembly district in 2024. Al Muratsuchi (Democratic), state assemblymember from the 66th district (2012–2014, 2016–present) Josh Newman (Democratic), former state senator from the 29th district (2016–2018, 2020–2024) Anthony Rendon (Democratic), former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2016–2023) from the 62nd district (2012–2024)

Withdrawn Andra Hoffman (Democratic), Los Angeles Community College District trustee

Primary election Endorsements

Results

Runoff Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RichardBarrera SonjaShaw UndecidedSurveyUSASeptember 15–20, 2026742 (LV)± 4.6%26%20%53%

Results

Notes

References

External links Official campaign links Sonja Shaw Richard Barrera