San Diego’s Richard Barrera leads Sonja Shaw in California superintendent race, early results show

This article first appeared in EdSource.

San Diego Unified board president Richard Barrera holds a lead over Chino Valley Unified board president Sonja Shaw in the race for California superintendent of public instruction, according to early returns Tuesday evening.

The office of California superintendent of public instruction is nonpartisan, with no party affiliation listed on the ballot. In past races, it was not unusual for two Democrats to advance to the November election. But this year, endorsements, campaign funding and campaigning broke largely along partisan lines.

Barrera had the backing of the California Democratic Party and the California Teachers Association, while Shaw received endorsements from Republicans. Barrera repeatedly accused Shaw of following the “Donald Trump playbook,” while Shaw accused Barrera of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” during an Oct. 7 EdSource debate.

Whoever wins will take office in January during a major overhaul of California’s education governance system, with responsibilities that are dramatically different from those of previous superintendents. 

The state superintendent will remain an independently elected voice on education issues but will no longer manage the California Department of Education. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law this summer that overhauled the state superintendent’s role. A governor-appointed education commissioner will manage the department that oversees TK-12 education in the state.

The superintendent’s responsibilities are still being defined. The new superintendent and education commissioner will work together during the first six months of 2027 negotiating a job description for the superintendent to bring back to the Legislature. 

The next superintendent will become a voting member of the State Board of Education, which sets policy for TK-12 schools, and a member of the Community Colleges Board of Governors. The superintendent will continue to serve as a California State University trustee and University of California regent. 

This is a developing story. Return to EdSource.org for live election night coverage.

EdSource is California’s largest independent newsroom focused on education.