State Superintendent of Education of South Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina state superintendent of education race?
Ellen Weaver has the strongest record in the South Carolina state superintendent of education race. Ellen Weaver scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Ellen Weaver's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Baba Amin Ojuok (2 of 15 criteria) and Sylvia Wright (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
United Citizens
Baba Amin Ojuok
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Ellen Weaver
61 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
Sylvia Wright
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- 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.
Baba Amin Ojuok
- Credit
Founded The Uhuru Academy, an online K-12 private school with students across the country.
Ellen Weaver
- On the record2026-02-19
Defended her department's award of vouchers to more than 1,000 home-educated students before a Senate panel; Republican Majority Leader Shane Massey said it was not a faithful implementation of the law.
Sources: SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, Feb. 19, 2026, The State, via Yahoo, Feb. 20, 2026
- On the record2026-04
At the request of a bipartisan group of senators, the Legislative Audit Council approved an investigation of the school voucher program her department runs in late April 2026.
Where it stands: Pending; the council aimed to finish by the end of 2026.
- On the record2022-10-17
Lacking the master's degree the office requires, completed a master's in educational leadership at Bob Jones University in about six months before the 2022 general election.
Source: WIS, Oct. 17, 2022
- Credit2026-08-10
Students in grades 3 to 8 posted best-ever SC READY results in 2025-26, a second straight year of gains under her tenure; high school end-of-course results were mixed.
- Credit2019-02
Appointed to the state Education Oversight Committee in 2018 and elected its chair in February 2019.
Sources: Wikipedia, Ellen Weaver (citing SC Education Oversight Committee), The State, via Yahoo, March 31, 2026
Sylvia Wright
- On the record2026-03
Endorsed in the primary by state lawmakers including Rep. Leon Howard and former state Democratic Party chair Trav Robertson.
- On the record2026-06-30
Raised nearly $190,000 from more than 2,000 individual donations through June 30, 2026, when her campaign account was more than $10,000 in deficit.
- On the record2026-07-24
Said some of her campaign finance filings listed duplicate expenditures and would be amended.
- Credit
Former teacher and district curriculum coordinator, most recently in Dorchester School District 4, with more than 20 years in education.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Campaign finance reports on file with the State Ethics Commission per The State. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Sylvia Wright. Campaign finance reports on file with the State Ethics Commission; she said some list duplicate expenditures and need amending, a technical matter with no penalty (E1). No official finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. In February 2026 defended her department's admission of home-educated students to the voucher program before a Senate panel despite objections from Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who warned it could cost her agenda.
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Answered senators' questions for over an hour at a February 2026 Senate Education panel and appeared at a Greenville County Republican forum in September 2026. No 2026 general election debate was found.
Sources: SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, Feb. 19, 2026, FOX Carolina, via MSN (WMBF), Sept. 24, 2026
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Chaired the Education Oversight Committee and has been state superintendent since January 2023 with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sylvia Wright. More than 20 years as a public school educator and district curriculum coordinator with no conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Sworn state superintendent since Jan. 11, 2023; no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results. Senators disputed her reading of the voucher law; no court or official body has ruled on it.
Sources: Wikipedia, Ellen Weaver, SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, Feb. 19, 2026
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Baba Amin Ojuok. Founder of The Uhuru Academy, an online K-12 private school; says he has worked with youth and families for over 30 years.
Ellen Weaver. State superintendent since January 2023, earlier chair of the Education Oversight Committee. The first full term ends in January 2027, so E9's same-office 4 does not yet apply.
Sylvia Wright. Former teacher and district coordinator in Dorchester School District 4; no elected or senior government post.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Heads the department and has set a target of 75 percent of students at or above grade level by 2030; has overseen revised English and math standards.
Sylvia Wright. Published priorities in her Ballotpedia survey, several of which (tax credits, childcare vouchers) depend on legislation rather than the superintendent's powers.
Source: Ballotpedia, Sylvia Wright
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Two channels found: public forums and press interviews on her record. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2022 but not in 2026; her campaign site blocked automated access.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ellen Weaver, FOX Carolina, via MSN (WMBF), Sept. 24, 2026
Sylvia Wright. Two channels: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey completed, and a campaign policy plan page.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Baba Amin Ojuok. Hopkins resident who moved to South Carolina from Texas in 2019.
Ellen Weaver. Greenville native, born in South Carolina. In-state donor share not available.
Sylvia Wright. Born and raised in North Charleston and educated in South Carolina public schools. In-state donor share not available.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sylvia Wright (candidate survey), The State, via Yahoo, March 31, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Heads the state Department of Education, with an annual budget listed at about $1.52 billion. No independent assessment of agency performance found beyond test results.
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. Grades 3 to 8 posted best-ever SC READY results in 2025-26; since 2023 the share meeting expectations rose about 14 percent in English and 17 percent in math. High school end-of-course results were mixed.
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. No public record found.
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. No public record found.
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. No public record found.
Sylvia Wright. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Baba Amin Ojuok. No public record found.
Ellen Weaver. No public record found.
Sylvia Wright. 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 South Carolina state superintendent of education race?
Ellen Weaver has the strongest record in the South Carolina state superintendent of education race. Ellen Weaver scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Ellen Weaver's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Baba Amin Ojuok (2 of 15 criteria) and Sylvia Wright (6 of 15 criteria) have 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 South Carolina state superintendent of education race in 2026?
Baba Amin Ojuok (United Citizens), Ellen Weaver (Republican, incumbent), Sylvia Wright (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Baba Amin Ojuok a good candidate for State Superintendent of Education?
Baba Amin Ojuok has public evidence on 2 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 Ellen Weaver a good candidate for State Superintendent of Education?
Ellen Weaver scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Sylvia Wright a good candidate for State Superintendent of Education?
Sylvia Wright has public evidence on 6 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 South Carolina race scored, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.