Superintendent of Public Instruction of California · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the California superintendent of public instruction race?
Richard Barrera has the strongest record in the California superintendent of public instruction race. Richard Barrera scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Barrera's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sonja Shaw (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Nonpartisan
Strongest record
Richard Barrera
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
Nonpartisan
Sonja Shaw
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Richard Barrera
- On the record2026
Endorsed by both the California Teachers Association and the California Charter Schools Association, historic rivals in superintendent races.
Source: CalMatters, June 2026
- On the record2026
Serves as a senior policy adviser at the state Department of Education while running for superintendent.
- On the record2015
Made phone calls supporting three San Diego Unified employees later hired into senior posts at Sweetwater Union High School District; he said the calls were not improper.
- On the record2013 to 2015
Led the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council while serving on the school board; an outside attorney for the district concluded he could keep his board seat.
Sources: Times of San Diego, Dec. 23, 2015, Voice of San Diego, 2013
Sonja Shaw
- On the record2026-09
Judge Michael Sachs denied the district's motion to dissolve the 2024 injunction after the Mirabelli v. Bonta ruling; Shaw, the board president, called the proceedings a kangaroo court.
- On the record2024-10-03
The San Bernardino County Superior Court entered a final judgment and permanent injunction against key parts of the Chino Valley board's 2023 parent notification policy, in the attorney general's suit.
Sources: Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction, People v. Chino Valley USD, No. CIVSB2317301 (copy posted by district counsel), EdSource via LAist, Sept. 17, 2026
- On the record2023
Presided over the Chino Valley Unified board meeting at which state Superintendent Tony Thurmond was escorted out during a debate over transgender student rights.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, Times of San Diego (EdSource), June 3, 2026
- On the record2023-09-06
A San Bernardino County judge halted the board's policy requiring parents be notified of a student's gender identity change, in a suit by Attorney General Bonta; she said she was disappointed.
Source: Associated Press via Bangor Daily News, Sept. 6, 2023
- On the record2022
Elected to the Chino Valley Unified board in 2022 and chosen as its president.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Richard Barrera. Campaign committee registered with the FPPC (No. 1478161). No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Source: Barrera campaign site
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Richard Barrera. No public record found.
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Richard Barrera. Took part in an April 2026 EdSource candidate forum and an AirTalk interview; took part in the Oct. 7 EdSource debate with Shaw. No open town halls documented.
Sources: Times of San Diego (EdSource), June 3, 2026, LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, EdSource, updated Oct. 8, 2026
Sonja Shaw. Took part in an April 2026 EdSource forum and an AirTalk interview; took part in the Oct. 7 EdSource debate with Barrera. No open town halls documented.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, Times of San Diego (EdSource), June 3, 2026, EdSource, updated Oct. 8, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Richard Barrera. San Diego Unified board member since 2008 and former head of the regional labor council. No censure or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Richard Barrera
Sonja Shaw. Chino Valley Unified board president since 2022. No censure or conduct finding found. The 2023 meeting at which Superintendent Thurmond was escorted out is in the Record.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Richard Barrera. Sworn school board member since 2008. No misuse-of-office finding found; a 2013 conflict question over his labor council job was cleared by an outside attorney for the district.
Source: Voice of San Diego, 2013
Sonja Shaw. Sworn school board member since 2022. No misuse-of-office finding found. Courts blocked the board's 2023 parental notification policy; the board rescinded it (Record).
Source: Associated Press via Bangor Daily News, Sept. 6, 2023
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Richard Barrera. Eighteen years on the San Diego Unified board, including terms as president; senior policy adviser at the state Department of Education; led the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council (2013 to 2015).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Richard Barrera, Times of San Diego, Dec. 23, 2015
Sonja Shaw. Elected to the Chino Valley Unified board in 2022 and its president since; no state education post.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Richard Barrera. Board president with state Education Department experience; his questionnaire states what the office can and cannot do, and he lists funding, early education and teacher pipeline plans.
Sources: GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026, LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026
Sonja Shaw. Presides over a 27,000-student district's board. Published plans focus on basic skills, teacher recruitment and parental notification, in general terms.
Sources: Associated Press via Bangor Daily News, Sept. 6, 2023, Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Richard Barrera. Completed the 2026 Ballotpedia survey and the GrowSF questionnaire, and joined forums and interviews.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Richard Barrera, GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Sonja Shaw. Completed the 2026 Ballotpedia survey and gave forum and broadcast interviews. Did not answer the GrowSF questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sonja Shaw (California), GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Richard Barrera. El Cajon Valley High School and UC San Diego graduate who has served on the San Diego Unified board since 2008. In-state donor share not available.
Source: Ballotpedia, Richard Barrera
Sonja Shaw. Chino native serving on the local school board. In-state donor share not available.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Richard Barrera. Led the regional labor council, the umbrella organization for San Diego and Imperial County unions, from 2013 to 2015. No campaign finance finding found.
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Richard Barrera. No public record found.
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Richard Barrera. No public record found.
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Richard Barrera. No public record found.
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Richard Barrera. Endorsed by both the California Teachers Association and the California Charter Schools Association, long-time rivals in this race.
Source: CalMatters, June 2026
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Richard Barrera. No public record found.
Sonja Shaw. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the California superintendent of public instruction race?
Richard Barrera has the strongest record in the California superintendent of public instruction race. Richard Barrera scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Barrera's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sonja Shaw (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the California superintendent of public instruction race in 2026?
Richard Barrera (Nonpartisan), Sonja Shaw (Nonpartisan). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Richard Barrera a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Richard Barrera scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Sonja Shaw a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Sonja Shaw has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.