The 2022 Georgia State Superintendent of Schools election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Georgia State Superintendent of Schools, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on May 24, 2022. A debate was held on October 17, 2022.
Incumbent Republican superintendent Richard Woods ran for re-election to a third term in office, defeating former Republican superintendent John Barge in a rematch of the 2018 Republican primary for the same office. Critical race theory, the COVID-19 response, school choice and transgender students were key issues throughout the campaign. Searcy criticized the Georgia Democratic Party and aligned organizations, including Stacey Abrams, for allegedly ostracizing her due to her stances on charter schools.
Woods defeated Searcy in the general election, slightly expanding on his 2018 margin of victory.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richard Woods, incumbent State Superintendent of Schools (2015-present) Eliminated in primary John Barge, former State Superintendent of Schools (2011-2015) and candidate for Georgia's 14th congressional district in 2020 Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Alisha Thomas Searcy, state representative from the 39th district (2003-2015), former Atlanta school superintendent, and candidate for state superintendent in 2014 Eliminated in primary Currey Hitchens, attorney and former teacher Jaha Howard, Cobb County school board member James Morrow, teacher Withdrew before primary Everton Blair, chairman of the Gwinnett County school board
Endorsements
Results
General election Post-primary endorsements
Debate + 2022 Georgia State School Superintendent debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Richard Woods Alisha Thomas Searcy1 October 17, 2022 Atlanta Press Club Jeff Hullinger YouTube
Results
References