2018 Election

January 7, 2019

Tony Thurmond sworn in as California's new superintendent of public instruction

He becomes the second African-American state schools superintendent in California history.

Louis Freedberg

December 17, 2018

Brown appointees to comprise majority on California's state board of education after Newsom takes office 

Seven out of 11 board members will remain on the board after Jerry Brown leaves office.

Louis Freedberg

November 19, 2018

'Blue wave' helps push Thurmond to victory in California schools chief race

Outcome of race a major victory for California Teachers Association and allies, and a major defeat for leading charter school advocates.

Louis Freedberg

November 13, 2018

Thurmond widens lead over Tuck in race for California schools chief

Thurmond erases 86,000 vote lead by Tuck on Election Day and now has a 75,000 vote lead based on partial count of millions of mail-in and other uncounted ballots.

Louis Freedberg

November 8, 2018

Millions of votes still uncounted in California’s tight state superintendent race

As of Thursday evening, election results show Marshall Tuck leading Tony Thurmond 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, a margin of about 69,000 votes.

Nico Savidge

November 7, 2018

Newsom's cradle-to-career plan for education is ambitious — and expensive

An EdSource estimate finds that the governor-elect's education promises could add up to billions of dollars.

Karin Fischer

November 7, 2018

Tuck has thin edge over Thurmond race for California schools chief

High-spending campaign for a job with little power but a big megaphone comes down to wire.

John Fensterwald, Nico Savidge, And Mikhail Zinshteyn

November 6, 2018

A half century ago, race for California schools chief was most contentious in the state

Contest between Wilson Riles and Max Rafferty in 1970 far more incendiary than current race for state superintendent of public instruction

Louis Freedberg

November 4, 2018

What Tuesday's election could mean for California education

California's new governor will be the key player in introducing new reforms. But where the funds to pay for them would come from is anyone's guess.

Louis Freedberg

November 3, 2018

This Week in California Education: Episode 81, November 3, 2018

This week, political observer and education consultant Kevin Gordon explains why the race for state superintendent, a position with little power to make policy, is attracting $50 million in spending. Louis recalls a contentious state superintendent campaign a half-century ago.

EdSource staff

November 2, 2018

Differences between Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond are real, as are areas of agreement

Whether it's clamping down on charter schools or changing teacher tenure, candidates can say a lot more than they can actually do.

John Fensterwald

November 2, 2018

Major donors in California schools chief contest also influencing local races

EdVoice and the California Teachers Association are making their influence felt in dozens of campaigns for Assembly and Senate.

Nico Savidge

October 31, 2018

Tuck leads Thurmond in race for California schools chief in new poll

Poll shows Marshall Tuck favored by two-thirds of Republicans, half of independent voters, and one-third of Democrats in the week before the Nov. 6 election.

Louis Freedberg

October 28, 2018

Donations reach $50 million in race for California state superintendent of schools

Marshall Tuck has a more 2-to-1 advantage over Tony Thurmond in direct donations and $28.7 million in funding from independent committees.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis

October 23, 2018

Youth advocates say some Central Valley schools resisting their voter education efforts

Organizers are attempting to reverse the historically low turnout among young voters.

David Washburn