State School Superintendent of Georgia · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Georgia state school superintendent race?
Richard Woods has the strongest record in the Georgia state school superintendent race. Richard Woods scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Woods's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Lydia Powell (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.
Democratic
Lydia Powell
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Richard Woods
61 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 50
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.
Lydia Powell
- On the record2026
Assistant principal at Hampton High School in Henry County while running for state school superintendent, per WABE.
Source: WABE, June 16, 2026
- On the record2026-09-29
Appeared with Richard Woods at a Sept. 29, 2026 candidate forum on early childhood education hosted by the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students.
Source: GPB, Sept. 30, 2026
Richard Woods
- On the record2026
House lawmakers excluded him from decision-making on a 2026 literacy law, and Republican legislative leaders endorsed his primary challenger, per the Georgia Recorder and WABE.
Sources: Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, May 28, 2026, WABE, June 16, 2026
- On the record2025
About 35% of Georgia third graders reached literacy proficiency in the 2024-25 school year, per WABE; Woods cites a separate state measure showing 65% reading at grade level.
Sources: WABE, June 16, 2026, Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, May 28, 2026
- On the record2024
In 2024 sought to block Advanced Placement African American Studies under Georgia's divisive concepts law, drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats, and then reversed course, per the Georgia Recorder.
- Credit2021-10-29
Received the Honorary American FFA Degree from the National FFA Organization in October 2021.
Source: SouthGATV, Oct. 29, 2021
- Credit2015-09-15
PolitiFact rated True his 2015 statement that Georgia's former CRCT test set some of the nation's lowest proficiency expectations; it is his only PolitiFact check.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Lydia Powell. No final order of the Georgia State Ethics Commission names her (list checked Oct. 9, 2026). No PolitiFact file exists for her.
Source: Georgia State Ethics Commission, final orders list (checked Oct. 9, 2026)
Richard Woods. No final order of the Georgia State Ethics Commission names him (list checked Oct. 9, 2026). PolitiFact's one check of him, from 2015, is rated True.
Sources: Georgia State Ethics Commission, final orders list (checked Oct. 9, 2026), PolitiFact, Richard Woods scorecard
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. Kept to his position on Georgia's reading measure after Republican House Speaker Jon Burns and the GOP Senate Education chairman endorsed his 2026 primary challenger over literacy disputes.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Lydia Powell. Spoke at a Sept. 29, 2026 general election candidate forum with Richard Woods and is invited to the Oct. 13 Atlanta Press Club debate.
Sources: Atlanta Press Club, 2026 general election debate schedule, Capitol Beat via GPB, Sept. 22, 2026, GPB, Sept. 30, 2026
Richard Woods. Debated his runoff opponent at the Atlanta Press Club in June 2026, spoke at a Sept. 29, 2026 general election candidate forum with Lydia Powell, and is invited to the Oct. 13 Atlanta Press Club debate.
Sources: WABE, June 16, 2026, Atlanta Press Club, 2026 general election debate schedule, Capitol Beat via GPB, Sept. 22, 2026, GPB, Sept. 30, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Lydia Powell. Assistant principal at Hampton High School after a teaching career in Georgia schools, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: WABE, June 16, 2026
Richard Woods. State school superintendent since January 2015 after a career as a teacher and school administrator, with no formal censure or conduct finding found. A 2024 reversal on AP African American Studies is in the Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Richard Woods
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. Took the oath as state school superintendent in 2015; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Richard Woods
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Lydia Powell. Assistant principal at Hampton High School in Henry County and a career educator. No government office.
Source: WABE, June 16, 2026
Richard Woods. State school superintendent since Jan. 12, 2015, three full terms in the same office.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Lydia Powell. Published positions in general terms, including universal preschool access and less reliance on standardized tests.
Source: Ballotpedia, Lydia Powell, Candidate Connection survey
Richard Woods. Heads the state education department and publishes a campaign plan; points to replacing Common Core-based standards by 2023 as delivered.
Sources: Campaign website, Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, May 28, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Lydia Powell. Three channels: completed Ballotpedia's candidate survey, a campaign platform page and the Atlanta Press Club debate invitation.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Lydia Powell, Campaign website, Atlanta Press Club, 2026 general election debate schedule
Richard Woods. Two channels: a campaign plan page and Atlanta Press Club debates. He had not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 candidate survey and did not complete the 2022 one.
Sources: Campaign website, WABE, June 16, 2026, Ballotpedia, Richard Woods
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Lydia Powell. Works as an assistant principal in Henry County, Georgia; campaign address in Fayetteville. Years of residence not documented by an established outlet.
Sources: WABE, June 16, 2026, Campaign website
Richard Woods. Taught social studies in Irwin County, Georgia, for 14 years before school administration and statewide office. In-state donor share not retrieved.
Source: Ballotpedia, Richard Woods
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. Has led the Georgia Department of Education since 2015. Staff size not retrieved; WABE reports lawmakers' criticism of the department's engagement on literacy legislation.
Source: WABE, June 16, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. New state standards replaced the Common Core-based standards by 2023 under his tenure. About 35% of third graders reached literacy proficiency in 2024-25, per WABE.
Sources: Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, May 28, 2026, WABE, June 16, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Lydia Powell. No public record found.
Richard Woods. 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 Georgia state school superintendent race?
Richard Woods has the strongest record in the Georgia state school superintendent race. Richard Woods scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Woods's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Lydia Powell (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 Georgia state school superintendent race in 2026?
Lydia Powell (Democratic), Richard Woods (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Lydia Powell a good candidate for State School Superintendent?
Lydia Powell 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.
Is Richard Woods a good candidate for State School Superintendent?
Richard Woods scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
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 Georgia race scored, and the Georgia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.