Global Courant
California Superintendent of Public Education Tony Thurmond is “seriously examining” his candidacy for governor in 2026.
Head of the state’s best schools made the announcement on Wednesday night after forming a campaign committee.
Thurmond, a former state legislator who was first elected superintendent in 2018, said he is “fully focused” on his current job but will begin the process of potentially running for governor.
“Working families across California are facing so many challenges that our entire state government needs to work together to solve,” Thurmond said in a statement. “Growing up as a black and Latino kid without my parents, I lived the struggles that so many Californians face every day — that’s why I dedicated my career to fighting for a better future for the kids of California.”
Thurmond, a Democrat whose office is nonpartisan, did not shy away from politics in his announcement, saying he “has taken on MAGA extremists.”
Last month, he and state Democrats launched a task force to audit textbook publishers amid reports of books being banned in red states, doubling down on California’s commitment to diverse and inclusive education.
The former member of the Bay Area Assembly raced for re-election in 2022 against Republican challenger Lance Christensen, with nearly 64% of the vote.
His win came despite criticism for his handling of pandemic school closures and controversies, including a staff turnover problem at the Ministry of Education and the hiring officials from out of statewhich led to dismissal.
A proposed constitutional amendment introduced this year could see future state inspectors appointed by the governor rather than elected, a move that follows much debate over Thurmond’s influence, with critics saying he hasn’t done enough in his role in overseeing nearly 6 million public school students.
But Thurmond has had the backing of strong backers in the past, including the California Democratic Party, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).
Newsom’s term expires in 2027. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat, has also announced an early bid for the governorship.
