The primary race for California state superintendent of public instruction is ending Tuesday with no clear front-runner among ten candidates. Key facts: 1) The race has been unusually quiet, with no candidate exceeding 10% support in polls and 32% of voters undecided.
2) The California Teachers Association and California Charter Schools Association both endorsed Richard Barrera, a San Diego school board member. 3) Sonja Shaw, president of Chino Valley Unified school board, has gained popularity by focusing on anti-LGBTQ policies.
4) Governor Newsom's proposal to overhaul school governance, reducing the superintendent's powers, has drawn criticism from candidates. The winner will face challenges including AI in classrooms, budget uncertainty, and declining enrollment.