Who is running for Arizona superintendent of public instruction?

Arizona voters will soon decide the 2026 race for superintendent of public instruction, a role overseeing the Arizona Department of Education and distributing state/federal education funds. Incumbent Republican Tom Horne, 81 and serving his second term, faces a heated challenge from Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, with key issues including the Empowerment Scholarship Account program and opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in schools. Horne’s tenure has focused on expanding the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, a program allowing tax-funded education savings for students. He has also opposed dual-language education and pushed for increased police presence in schools. Horne’s political history spans decades, including service on the Paradise Valley Unified School District board, two terms as superintendent (2003–2011), and a stint as Arizona attorney general (2011–2015), where he clashed with local governments over LGBTQ+ rights and faced FBI scrutiny for a car crash linked to an extramarital affair. On the Democratic side, Teresa Ruiz and Brett Newby will compete in July’s primary, running lower-profile campaigns compared to their Republican counterparts. Independent candidate Stephen Neal Jr., affiliated with No Labels, lacks opponents and won’t appear on the ballot until November. The superintendent, elected to two consecutive terms, collaborates with the State Board of Education to set academic standards but does not control district-level hiring or classroom instruction. The race has intensified as Yee and Horne exchange sharp criticism, with Yee accusing Horne’s ESA program of creating ‘chaos.’ The outcome will shape Arizona’s education policies, particularly funding distribution and curriculum standards, as the role holds significant influence over public schools statewide.