Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wyoming · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction race?
Steve Harshman has the strongest record in the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction race. Steve Harshman scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Steve Harshman's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ana Cordova (6 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
Ana Cordova
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 69
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Steve Harshman
68 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
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.
Ana Cordova
- On the record2026
Returned to Wyoming in 2026 after years out of state working for education nonprofits, and won the Democratic nomination for superintendent.
Sources: KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026, WyoFile Election Guide 2026, Ana Cordova
- On the record2026-09
Proposes an application process explaining why public voucher funds go to private individuals, and broader success measures for school funding.
Source: KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
Steve Harshman
- On the record2026-09
Told KHOL he expects the state's private school voucher program to fail in the Wyoming Supreme Court and would have department staff certify providers if it survives.
Source: KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
- Credit2017 to 2020
Elected speaker of the Wyoming House for 2017 to 2018 and again for 2019 to 2020.
- Credit2009 to 2010
The Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked him first in the Wyoming House for 2009 to 2010 (Above expectations); 28 bills he sponsored became law from 2003 to 2024.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
- Credit2003 to 2024
Principal author of the Hathaway Scholarship, Wyoming's state scholarship program for in-state students, and of the Wyoming's Tomorrow Scholarship.
Sources: Wyoming Tribune Eagle via Yahoo News, April 2026, KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
- Credit1991 to 2026
Natrona County High School head football coach for 36 seasons with seven Class 4A state titles; a member of the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Ana Cordova. Campaign reports are on file with the Wyoming Campaign Finance System ($912 raised through Aug. 17, 2026). No finding found.
Source: WyoFile Election Guide 2026, Ana Cordova (state filings)
Steve Harshman. Campaign reports are on file with the Wyoming Campaign Finance System ($190,904 raised through Aug. 17, 2026). No state ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Source: WyoFile Election Guide 2026, Steve Harshman (state filings)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Ana Cordova. Accepted the Oct. 15, 2026 Wyoming PBS superintendent debate with all balloted candidates and gave a KHOL interview for Wyoming Public Radio.
Sources: Cowboy State Daily, Sept. 11, 2026, KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
Steve Harshman. Accepted the Oct. 15, 2026 Wyoming PBS superintendent debate with all balloted candidates and gave a KHOL interview for Wyoming Public Radio.
Sources: Cowboy State Daily, Sept. 11, 2026, KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. House member since 2003, speaker in 2017 to 2018 and 2019 to 2020, and Natrona County High School teacher and football coach, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. Sworn state representative since 2003 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Ana Cordova. Worked for education-focused nonprofits, taught at Georgetown University's medical school and developed science curricula; holds degrees from New Mexico State, Johns Hopkins and Northwestern. Has not held public office.
Steve Harshman. Longest-serving member of the Wyoming House (since 2003), twice speaker, 10 years on Appropriations and 16 on the School Facilities Commission; a teacher and coach for about 40 years.
Sources: Wyoming Tribune Eagle via Yahoo News, April 2026, Cowboy State Daily, Sept. 12, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Ana Cordova. Proposes specific department steps, including an application process for voucher funds and using graduation, literacy and teacher retention measures in funding decisions.
Source: KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
Steve Harshman. Twice House speaker and principal author of the Hathaway Scholarship; proposes specific department steps, such as staff to certify voucher education providers and fewer state standards.
Sources: Wyoming Tribune Eagle via Yahoo News, April 2026, KHOL, Oct. 5, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Ana Cordova. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and the WyoFile questionnaire, gave a KHOL interview and accepted the PBS debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ana Cordova, WyoFile Election Guide 2026, Ana Cordova
Steve Harshman. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and the WyoFile questionnaire, gave a KHOL interview and accepted the PBS debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Steve Harshman, WyoFile Election Guide 2026, Steve Harshman
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Ana Cordova. Born and raised in Cheyenne, a third-generation Wyomingite; lived out of state after college and returned to Cheyenne in 2026.
Steve Harshman. Born in Casper, raised in Midwest, Wyoming, and has lived in Casper for 36 years. In-state share of contributions not available.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. Led the Wyoming House as speaker for two terms and has run Natrona County High School's football program for 36 seasons; campaign reports are on file with the state with no finding.
Sources: Cowboy State Daily, Sept. 12, 2026, WyoFile Election Guide 2026, Steve Harshman (state filings)
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. State Legislative Effectiveness Score Meets expectations in ten of eleven scored terms and Above in 2009 to 2010; 28 bills he sponsored became law, and he was principal author of the Hathaway Scholarship.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file, Wyoming Tribune Eagle via Yahoo News, April 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Ana Cordova. No public record found.
Steve Harshman. 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 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction race?
Steve Harshman has the strongest record in the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction race. Steve Harshman scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Steve Harshman's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ana Cordova (6 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 Wyoming superintendent of public instruction race in 2026?
Ana Cordova (Democratic), Steve Harshman (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Ana Cordova a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Ana Cordova 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.
Is Steve Harshman a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Steve Harshman scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 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 Wyoming race scored, and the Wyoming 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.