Leyba Ruiz Leads Yee in Arizona Superintendent Race

Why it matters

The superintendent of public instruction oversees how Arizona's public schools are run, so the outcome shapes school policy that reaches families across the state. Yee, who defeated incumbent Superintendent Tom Horne in the Republican primary, supports the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts school voucher program, while Leyba Ruiz supports adding more requirements to that program.

The details

Early results were posted roughly an hour after the 7 p.m. poll closing, and the candidates' current standing reflects only the ballots counted so far. Leyba Ruiz is a first-time candidate and former Glendale Community College president, while Yee has the backing of Turning Point USA, the Freedom Caucus, and the No Labels Party but is not endorsed by President Trump. The race turns in part on school voucher policy, with Yee supporting the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program and Leyba Ruiz backing additional requirements for it.

Timeline

1. Polls closed at 7 p.m. local time on November 3, 2026, and early results were posted about an hour later.

2. The Republican primary, in which Yee defeated Tom Horne, was held before the general election.

The Home Front

The race places the state's school voucher policy at the center of the superintendent's office, which is a direct question for Arizona families weighing public and private school options. Whether the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program is left as is or made subject to added requirements depends on which candidate's early lead holds.

The takeaway

Final results may shift the early 56% to 44% margin, so check the Arizona Secretary of State's official results before drawing conclusions. For families, the outcome determines whether Arizona's voucher program stays as is or gains new requirements, so keep your school and ESA paperwork organized.

Further reading

For more on how these decisions affect the classroom, see Primary Education coverage across Arizona.