Shaw wins primary for California superintendent of public instruction | EdSource
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Chino Valley Unified School District board President Sonja Shaw has won the primary election for California superintendent of public instruction and will advance to the statewide general election in November, The New York Times reported.
“I am humbled and grateful that Californians from every corner of our state have linked arms and rallied behind this campaign, making us the top vote-getter in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction,” Shaw said in a statement on Facebook. “Tonight’s results send a clear message: Californians want accountability, academic excellence, and a public education system that puts students first.”
Shaw, a mother of two, rose to prominence after she accused current Superintendent Tony Thurmond of “perverting children” and kicked him out of a Chino Valley Unified board meeting. Republicans rallied around Shaw, who represents a wave of conservative mothers across the state concerned about issues like transgender athletes in girls sports and parental notification policies.
Shaw’s campaign had raised about $261,089, putting her behind three other candidates for superintendent. In a profile by EdSource, Shaw said her top priority as superintendent would be to remove “political ideologies being shoved down everybody’s throats,” and allow schools to focus on academics.
“The education establishment spent millions to protect the status quo,” Shaw said. “California voters had other ideas.”
It’s unclear who will challenge Shaw in the November general election. The top two vote-getters advance. San Diego Unified school board President Richard Barrera was trailing Shaw, with Wendy Castaneda Leal in a distant third. Votes were still being counted on Wednesday.
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News Brief
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 — 4:52 pm
June 3, 2026
Chino Valley Unified School District board President Sonja Shaw has won the primary election for California superintendent of public instruction and will advance to the statewide general election in November, The New York Times reported.
“I am humbled and grateful that Californians from every corner of our state have linked arms and rallied behind this campaign, making us the top vote-getter in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction,” Shaw said in a statement on Facebook. “Tonight’s results send a clear message: Californians want accountability, academic excellence, and a public education system that puts students first.”
Shaw, a mother of two, rose to prominence after she accused current Superintendent Tony Thurmond of “perverting children” and kicked him out of a Chino Valley Unified board meeting. Republicans rallied around Shaw, who represents a wave of conservative mothers across the state concerned about issues like transgender athletes in girls sports and parental notification policies.
Shaw’s campaign had raised about $261,089, putting her behind three other candidates for superintendent. In a profile by EdSource, Shaw said her top priority as superintendent would be to remove “political ideologies being shoved down everybody’s throats,” and allow schools to focus on academics.
“The education establishment spent millions to protect the status quo,” Shaw said. “California voters had other ideas.”
It’s unclear who will challenge Shaw in the November general election. The top two vote-getters advance. San Diego Unified school board President Richard Barrera was trailing Shaw, with Wendy Castaneda Leal in a distant third. Votes were still being counted on Wednesday.
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