Colorado Education Board Seat Draws Two Challengers
Voters in the 3rd Congressional District will choose who holds the six-year state board seat that oversees public school policy.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Administration
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Barb Clementi, a Pueblo Democrat, is challenging Sherri Wright, a Cortez Republican, for the Colorado State Board of Education 3rd Congressional District seat. The winner will serve a six-year term on the board that governs the Colorado Department of Education.
Why it matters
The state board sets education policy that shapes how Colorado schools are run, which affects school budgets, curriculum and the services families rely on for their kids. Wright, who was appointed in 2024 after Stephen Varela resigned and later elected to finish his term, is now seeking to hold the seat in her own right.
The seat covers the 3rd Congressional District and carries a six-year term. Wright has served two years on the board after being appointed in 2024, and Clementi announced her campaign in June.
The players
Sherri Wright
A Cortez Republican who has served on the Colorado State Board of Education for two years after being appointed and then elected to finish a term.
Barb Clementi
A Pueblo Democrat and former educator challenging Wright for the 3rd Congressional District state board seat.
Colorado State Board of Education
The elected body that governs the Colorado Department of Education and sets statewide education policy.
The details
Wright was first appointed by a Republican vacancy committee in 2024 to fill the seat left open when Stephen Varela resigned. She was later elected to serve the remainder of Varela's term, and she is now running in the current contest. Clementi is also a former educator and has experience leading a local school board, as does Wright, so both candidates bring classroom and governance backgrounds to the race.
Timeline
2024: Sherri Wright is appointed by a Republican vacancy committee to the state board.
June: Barb Clementi announces her campaign for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
Election Day, November 3, 2026: Race results are determined and polls close at 7 p.m.
The Home Front
Statewide school board seats shape the rules that determine how public schools are funded and staffed, which in turn affects property-tax-funded school districts and the neighborhoods that depend on them. For Colorado families, a six-year state board term means a single election can influence school-level decisions well beyond a single school year.
If you have children in Colorado public schools, check whether your district's policies are shaped by the state board and note which candidate's positions on school governance you want to weigh before Election Day. Polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, so plan your vote in advance if your schedule is tight.
The takeaway
A seat on the state education board is a six-year commitment that affects schools in every Colorado community. Check your voter registration and your polling location now so you can cast your ballot before polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Further reading
For background on how these boards and districts are run, see Administration in our education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Pueblo Chieftain Online.
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