California Will Elect State Superintendent in November 2026
Voters will choose between two school board presidents for a role with a shifting scope of authority.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Do you trust the governor-appointed Board of Education to manage state schools better than an elected superintendent?
California voters will head to the polls in November 2026 to elect a new nonpartisan state superintendent of public instruction. Candidates Richard Barrera and Sonja Shaw are running for the office, which will face structural changes in the coming years.
Why it matters
The election occurs as state leaders have recently transferred primary oversight of the Department of Education from the elected superintendent to a governor-appointed Board of Education. This shift changes the scope and responsibilities of the superintendent position for California families.
Richard Barrera of the San Diego Unified School Board and Sonja Shaw of the Chino Valley Unified School Board are the candidates. The winner will hold the office during a transition period as a governor-appointed Board of Education assumes department oversight in January 2027.
The players
Richard Barrera
A candidate for state superintendent who serves as the president of the San Diego Unified School Board.
Sonja Shaw
A candidate for state superintendent who serves as the president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board.
Gavin Newsom
The Governor of California who oversaw the transfer of Department of Education oversight to an appointed board.
The details
The state government recently transferred oversight of the Department of Education to a board appointed by the Governor. Beginning in January 2027, this board will manage the department's operations. Candidates are campaigning for the superintendent seat amid these adjustments to the agency's leadership structure.
Timeline
The Chino Valley school board approved a parental notification policy in 2023.
California voters will elect a new state superintendent in November 2026.
A governor-appointed Board of Education begins department oversight in January 2027.
The Home Front
This election follows a major structural shift in how California manages its education department via the California Education Code administrative restructuring. This change marks a departure from traditional independent oversight toward a model involving a governor-appointed board.
Families should track how the shift in departmental oversight affects school policy and local district mandates. Monitor upcoming board meeting minutes to see how your local school district responds to these state-level leadership changes.
The takeaway
The upcoming election marks a pivot point for the administrative structure of California schools. Families should pay attention to how the new superintendent coordinates with the governor-appointed Board of Education beginning in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local government roles in our Administration section.
Live Poll
Do you trust the governor-appointed Board of Education to manage state schools better than an elected superintendent?
