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Sonja Shaw concedes California superintendent race, says God ‘isn’t finished’
Richard Barrera has won California’s race for state superintendent of public instruction, defeating Sonja Shaw, who conceded on Thursday. The result puts Barrera in a role whose authority is set to shrink under a new law, changing how the state’s education department is run from 2027.
Barrera received 4,014,765 votes, or 57.6%, against Shaw’s 2,959,230, or 42.4%, with all precincts reporting. The law will let the next governor appoint an education commissioner to run the department; the elected superintendent will take on board roles instead. Shaw says she plans to challenge the change in court, while Barrera has proposed involving local educators and parents in drafting an education budget.
In short
- Richard Barrera won with 57.6% of the vote.
- Sonja Shaw conceded after a margin of more than one million votes.
- A new law will shift department leadership to a governor-appointed commissioner.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the change can argue that appointing an education commissioner under the governor gives voters a clearer way to hold the administration accountable for running the department. They may also see a board-focused role for the elected superintendent as a chance to strengthen oversight and bring local educators and parents into budget decisions.
The case against
Opponents can argue that transferring operational authority from an elected superintendent to a governor-appointed commissioner weakens direct democratic accountability and risks making education policy more dependent on the governor’s priorities. Shaw’s planned court challenge reflects a concern that the change may also raise legal questions about the elected office’s role and authority.