Democrats take the lead in California, Arizona education races

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – In California and Arizona, Democratic candidates for superintendent of public instruction took the lead against Republican opponents. 

California Democrat Richard Barrera led by 58% with 3,252,599 votes against his Republican opponent Sonja Shaw with 42% and 2,355,885 votes, according to results Tuesday at 10:20 p.m. Pacific time, with 71.6% of precincts reporting.

In Arizona, a Democrat, Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz, led by 54.81% with 939,596 votes against Republican Kimberly Yee, the state treasurer, with only 45.09% and 773,105 votes, according to results Tuesday at 10:15 p.m. Mountain time with 100% of precincts reporting.

In California, voters were choosing between Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education, and Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education.

Barrera’s campaign emphasizes increased education funding, affordable housing for educators and universal early childhood education, among other priorities. 

His opponent, Shaw, has been a huge advocate against transgender athletes in girls' sports and continues to urge the state of California and the California Interscholastic Federation to follow the federal law of Title IX to protect girls in sports. 

In contrast, Barrera has vowed to protect LGBTQ+ students in schools. 

“Transgender students are among the most vulnerable students in our state,” Barrera told NBC4 Los Angeles news. “We are not a state that believes in bullying and scapegoating kids for political gain.”

According to Transparency USA, Barrera’s campaign has reported $313,428 in total contributions. Listed contributors include the United Domestic Workers of America Action Fund, which contributed $19,800, and the California Teachers Association/Association for Better Citizenship, which contributed $19,600.  

While Shaw’s campaign has focused on transgender athletes and fighting CIF policies, Shaw criticized state education policies, arguing that students should not be subjected to approaches that don’t have results. She added that more funding should reach classrooms directly. 

“Our kids shouldn't be test products. Things should be fully implemented. We should see how it works … We have great teachers, but unfortunately, they don’t have the support or the resources,” Shaw told The Center Square during an exclusive interview. 

Shaw said schools should refocus on foundational academic subjects like reading, writing and math to prepare students for college or career pathways after high school. 

Transparency USA lists Shaw’s campaign as having $460,565 in total contributions. The Yuba County Republican Party contributed $12,340.50. Republican supporters have contributed financially, including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who lost during the gubernatorial primary, who contributed $9,800, and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, who donated $5,500. 

In Arizona, Ruiz is an educator with 35 years of experience. She's also the former president of Glendale Community College in the Phoenix area.

Yee is the 45th Arizona state treasurer. Yee previously served in the Arizona Senate for the 20th legislative district from 2013 to 2019.

Yee calls for greater transparency in school district budgets and more education funding directed toward classrooms and teachers. Citing the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute, Yee highlighted that there has been an 8% increase in administrative funding. 

“We have to follow the money because these are taxpayer dollars,” Yee told The Center Square in an interview.   

On artificial intelligence in schools, Yee said students should be taught to use the technology ethically and responsibly. She also called for parental consent and input regarding how extensively AI is used in their children's education.

“We do have to make sure students understand that they have to be responsible with this tool. They have to be ethical with it,” Yee added. 

According to Transparency USA, Yee’s campaign has $323,669 in total contributions, with the Maricopa County Republican Party listed as contributing $309.27.

Ruiz’s campaign website calls for tighter oversight of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, which allows eligible families to use public funds for approved education expenses outside the traditional public school system.

While both Yee and Ruiz agree that the ESA program needs guardrails, Ruiz calls for tighter restrictions like capping the household income eligibility at $150,000. 

Ruiz’s campaign has reported $188,096 in total contributions, according to Transparency USA. The Arizona Democratic Party is listed as contributing $6,566.

The Arizona Education Association Fund for Public Education has endorsed Ruiz and contributed $10,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party in 2026, according to Transparency USA.

For other Southwest states, Colorado and Nevada have different processes for selecting their top state education officials.

Colorado’s commissioner of education, Susana Córdova, assumed office June 26, 2023, and was unanimously appointed by the Colorado State Board of Education. 

Nevada’s superintendent of public instruction is appointed by the governor from candidates recommended by the State Board of Education. Dr. Victor Wakefield assumed the position on Oct. 27, 2025.