Ten candidates are running for the office that oversees public education for nearly six million California students. Here is what voters need to know before June 2.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the chief spokesperson for California's public schools and the executive lead of the California Department of Education, responsible for the schooling of nearly six million students across more than one thousand school districts.
Listed alphabetically by last name. Polling estimates reflect analyst readings of institutional backing as of May 4, 2026.
59. Longtime school board member in San Diego Unified, the state's second-largest school system. Senior advisor to Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and before that a local labor union executive.
Currently viewed as a frontrunner due to the California Teachers Association endorsement, whose ground game and funding have historically correlated with the highest polling numbers for this office.
42. Has pursued a career in more rural areas, currently serving as superintendent for the Semitropic Elementary School District, a one-school TK–8 district of about 140 students off Highway 46 in Kern County. Previously director of whole-child education for Roseland School District and a secondary alternative school principal.
57. Elected trustee of the Los Angeles Community College District. Began her education career as a teaching assistant, later teaching sixth-grade math and science in Compton Unified. Currently a faculty advisor and clinical field supervisor in a Cal State teacher preparation program.
A strong local contender for West Hollywood voters. The Black Caucus and California Federation of Teachers endorsements give her a high floor in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
41. Public school teacher with 15 years of experience. Executive vice president of United Educators of San Francisco, the teachers union for San Francisco Unified, which has endorsed him. Lists himself as a member of the Peace and Freedom Party.
41. San Francisco Unified middle school math department chair. Ran four years ago with no significant resources and came within less than a percentage point of making the runoff; she benefited then from no Democrat running against Thurmond and a divided Republican vote. Long retains her ballot designation: "public school teacher." She is also a past senior administrator at a charter-school group.
53. Runs a tutoring company with a multistate portfolio. Has served on elected and appointed boards in San Mateo County, including the Midcoast Community Council, which represents unincorporated areas.
61. Represents the 66th Assembly District, encompassing parts of the South Bay, and has chaired the state Assembly education committee. Taught briefly at the college level and served as an elected board member of the Torrance Unified School District.
Holding significant momentum as a co-author of Proposition 2, the $10 billion school bond. Endorsements from the California Federation of Teachers and the California School Employees Association split the labor vote with Barrera.
61. State senator who has chaired the Senate education committee, and a technology company executive. Served in the Army; taught briefly at the college and middle school levels.
58. State Assembly Speaker from 2016 to 2023. Previously directed Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services and served as chief operating officer for the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation.
Likely has the highest name recognition in Los Angeles, including West Hollywood, due to his long tenure as Assembly Speaker. Backed by SEIU California and the California Latino Caucus.
43. School board president of Chino Valley Unified. Has built a public profile as a MAGA culture warrior, advocating assertively for keeping transgender athletes out of girls' sports (her daughters are athletes) and supporting mandatory parent notification when a child expresses gender-identity issues at school.
As the primary candidate backed by the California Republican Party and aligned groups, expected to consolidate the conservative vote. In a crowded Democratic field, this often guarantees a spot in the top two for the November runoff.
Candidate positions on four issues that have surfaced in this race. Positions are grouped where multiple candidates have stated similar views.
School staff should have a legal obligation to tell parents about their child's gender identity at school.
There should be a legal obligation, but district officials must cite documented instances of abuse or mistreatment, by courts or law enforcement, to withhold this information in extremely rare circumstances.
District officials should keep parents informed even against the child's will, but should also be able to assess whether providing such information is in the child's best interests, using that assessment as a factor in their decision.
The aspiration should be to fully inform parents, but the child's wish should carry the greatest weight, especially as the child grows older.
The student's wish on whether to inform parents should always take precedence.
Strongly supports allowing transgender athletes to participate on the teams of their self-identified gender.
Support California law, which is essentially the position stated by Lara.
Said the issue was settled by state law but did not elaborate on whether she supported the law.
Implied support for California law by calling the issue a manufactured controversy.
Many Californians, including many who strongly support LGBTQ+ rights, have sincere questions about how to balance inclusion with competitive fairness in girls' and women's sports. Argues recent polling shows majority support for placing some limits on participation, and that it would be a mistake for state leaders to dismiss those concerns.
Supports the California Interscholastic Federation's compromise efforts to devise a policy that allows transgender students to participate in athletic programs while addressing the concerns of many families.
Called for alignment of federal, state, and local policies, and said that, given the small number of trans athletes, the ultimate decision should be made on a case-by-case basis.
Every student in California should be entitled to participate in athletics, but it may not be on their first-choice team. The fairest and most practical way to address this issue is for all athletes to participate in the athletic division corresponding to their biology.
Central to her campaign. Argues girls are losing roster spots, medals, and scholarships, and that some do not feel comfortable using their own locker rooms, choosing to change in their cars before games rather than be forced to undress in front of boys.
Propose strict state-level guardrails and funding for teacher training to manage AI risks.
Believes California should follow New York's model, putting teachers at the front and center of AI curriculum decisions.
Strongest opponent of charter school expansion, aligned with the California Teachers Association.
Generally more supportive of school choice and alternative education models.
Fundraising and spending totals as of approximately May 4, 2026. Wendy Castañeda-Leal and Ainye Long are not shown; neither has reported significant fundraising.
Total raised against total spent for each candidate, listed in order of amount raised. Bars are scaled to the largest fundraiser, Anthony Rendon.
Candidates must disclose donors who give $200 or more over the course of the campaign. Small donors who give less than $100 are excluded from the contributor totals shown here. Bars are scaled to the largest recipient, Al Muratsuchi.
Anthony Rendon and Sonja Shaw appear in the fundraising chart but not here. Their funding may come predominantly from sources not represented in itemized direct contributions, such as transfers from prior campaign accounts or party committee support. The source data for this chart did not include them.
Henderson's spending slightly exceeds her amount raised ($81,481 spent against $80,138 raised), which can occur with debt or in-kind contributions.