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Statewide constitutional office

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

This durable statewide nonpartisan office leads the California Department of Education and carries out statewide public-school responsibilities.

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Data coverage
Government
State of California
Public body
California Department of Education
Electoral area
California statewide
Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewide
i
Reviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Office overview

The office at a glance

See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.

Government levelStateState of California
Contest typeNonpartisanMajority primary with a top-two runoff when required
SeatStatewide officeOne of California's eight statewide constitutional offices
Regular term4 yearsRegular term; next election is 2026; no one may serve more than two terms in this office

What this office does

Leads the California Department of Education

The Superintendent directs the Department of Education, executes policies adopted by the State Board of Education, provides education policy direction and support, and oversees duties assigned by the Constitution and state law.

California Department of Education

Election process

A nonpartisan statewide election every four years

All voters receive the same nonpartisan candidate list. A candidate who receives a majority in the primary is elected; otherwise the top two advance to the general election. The winner serves a four-year term.

Next electionNovember 3, 2026

Open the 2026 Election Page
California statewide statisticsJuly 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures

These statewide measures describe the shared electoral area for all eight California constitutional offices. They do not describe an officeholder's performance. QuickFacts combines the latest available population estimate with 2020–2024 Census measures, so each row retains its own period note.

People and households

Population
39,355,309July 1, 2025 estimate
Persons per household
2.842020–2024
Foreign-born residents
27.0%Share of residents; 2020–2024

Income and education

Median household income
$99,1222024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People in poverty
11.8%2020–2024
Bachelor's degree or higher
37.1%Population age 25+; 2020–2024

Housing

Housing units
14,995,410July 1, 2025 estimate
Homeownership rate
55.9%Occupied housing units; 2020–2024
Median gross rent
$2,036Monthly; 2020–2024
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

The official Department of Education website and California Roster identify Tony Thurmond as California's current State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Past officeholders27 verified succession records

Succession history

Explore prior service

All prior officeholders listed in the 2026 California Roster.

A displayed end boundary is the date on which the next listed officeholder assumed office; it is not independently asserted as the prior officeholder's final day.

Electoral area

Where this office represents

See the geographic area represented by this office and open its location information when available.

Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewideReviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Reviewed electoral area

California

Voters in all 58 California counties elect this officeholder to one statewide office.

A reviewed static map is shown while a reliable interactive boundary remains unavailable.

Open the Location Page

Past elections

Election history

This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.

Election archive

November 8, 2022 · California State Superintendent of Public Instruction page not yet published

The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.

Public records

Records connected to this office

Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.

School data

DataQuest

Explore official data on enrollment, demographics, staffing, testing, accountability, and other public-school measures.

Open official record

School directory

California School Directory

Search public schools, districts, county offices of education, and related contact records.

Open official record

Education policy

State Board of Education

Review agendas, meeting materials, regulations, and policies carried out with the Department of Education.

Open official record

News and Press Releases

Updates from this office

Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.

Official portrait of Tony Thurmond
California Secretary of State Official Voter Information Guide
California Department of Education
Official update

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces 2026 National Youth Science Camp delegates

The Superintendent named two California students selected for the National Youth Science Camp and described their science and community work.

California Department of EducationRead official update
Official portrait of Tony Thurmond
California Secretary of State Official Voter Information Guide
California Department of Education
Official update

California continues strong support for education with 2026–27 budget agreement

The Department of Education outlined education funding and student-support provisions in the enacted state budget and published the Superintendent's response.

California Department of EducationRead official update
Official portrait of Tony Thurmond
California Secretary of State Official Voter Information Guide
California Department of Education
Official update

Superintendent Thurmond launches campaign to support schools affected by Garden Grove chemical emergency

The Superintendent announced a support campaign for schools and families affected by a chemical tank emergency in Garden Grove.

California Department of EducationRead official update

Sources

Sources and data coverage

Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.

Current assessmentStrong coverage

The office identity, current officeholder and contact, verified succession chronology, California-wide electoral area and statistics, connected 2026 election, official records, related statewide offices, three current official publications, and source trail are included.

Assessed August 18, 2026 · Current 2026 records

The 2018 and 2022 Election Pages, complete historical portrait coverage, compensation, additional succession context, and full visual and accessibility release review remain incomplete.

Sources used on this page14 source organizations · 29 records
Official candidate source

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Candidate list and ballot informationhttps://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2026-primary/sov/113-spi.xlsx
U.S. Census Bureau state boundary

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Boundary source for State of Californiahttps://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/USLandmass/MapServer/0
California Department of Education

8 records from this source are used on the page.

Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/bo/tt/index.aspThe official Department of Education website and California Roster identify Tony Thurmond as California's current State Superintendent of Public Instruction.https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/cd/index.aspDataQuesthttps://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/California School Directoryhttps://www.cde.ca.gov/SchoolDirectory/Official update: State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces 2026 National Youth Science Camp delegateshttps://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr26/yr26rel34.aspOfficial update: California continues strong support for education with 2026–27 budget agreementhttps://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr26/yr26rel33.aspOfficial update: Superintendent Thurmond launches campaign to support schools affected by Garden Grove chemical emergencyhttps://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr26/yr26rel32.aspOfficial publication archive used to review current News items.https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr26/
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

1 record from this source is used on the page.

July 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures detailed district statisticshttps://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045225
California Secretary of State Official Voter Information Guide

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Portrait source page for Tony Thurmondhttps://vigarchive.sos.ca.gov/2026/primary/candidates/superintendent-of-public-instruction-candidate-statements.htm
California Secretary of State · 2026 History of California Constitutional Officeholders

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Verified succession chronology for California State Superintendent of Public Instructionhttps://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ca-roster/2026/history-of-officers.pdf
California Department of Education via Wikimedia Commons

2 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Tom Torlakson · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction_Tom_Torlakson.jpgReviewed photograph for Delaine Eastin · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delaine_Eastin.jpg
State of California via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Jack O’Connell · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jack_O%27Connell.jpg
California Blue Book 1975 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Wilson C. Riles · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wilson_Riles,_1975.jpg
Wikimedia Commons

7 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Maxwell L. Rafferty, Jr. · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Max_Rafferty,_1967.jpgReviewed photograph for Vierling C. Kersey · Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vierling_C._Kersey,_1935.jpgReviewed photograph for William John Cooper · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William-John-Cooper.jpgReviewed photograph for Ezra S. Carr · original source is faculty guide 1860 · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EzraSlocumCarr.pngReviewed photograph for Henry N. Bolander · The original uploader was Ixitixel at German Wikipedia. · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Nicholas_Bolander.jpgReviewed photograph for O.P. Fitzgerald · John Chester Buttre · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oscar_Penn_Fitzgerald_by_J._C._Buttre.jpgReviewed photograph for John Swett · Unknown photographer · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Swett,_1910_(cropped).jpg
California State Board of Education

1 record from this source is used on the page.

State Board of Educationhttps://www.cde.ca.gov/be/
California Secretary of State

2 records from this source are used on the page.

California Roster source for the eight current statewide constitutional officers and their office contact information.https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/california-rosterOfficial explanation of California voter-nominated and nonpartisan primary election rules.https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california
California Legislative Information

1 record from this source is used on the page.

California Constitution Article V source for executive powers, statewide election timing, terms, and term limits.https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=V&chapter=&division=&lawCode=CONS&part=&title=
U.S. Census Bureau

1 record from this source is used on the page.

State cartographic boundary source underlying the static California map treatment.https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/cartographic-boundary.html
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