Richard Barrera
California Superintendent of Public Instruction
AI wrote this from the sources listed below. A second AI checked each sentence against its source, and software checked the links and dates. A person didn’t review it, so every sentence links to its source for you to check. Updated Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Overview
Richard Barrera is president of the San Diego Unified School Board and a senior policy adviser at the California Department of Education.1 He has served on the school board since 2008.1 According to his official biography, during his tenure the district passed four school bonds totaling $11.6 billion and ranked first in reading and second in math among large urban districts on the Nation's Report Card.1 His campaign says he led the expansion of transitional kindergarten to all four-year-olds, making San Diego the first California district to guarantee it.2 He says he pushed earlier this year to build over 2,000 units of affordable housing for teachers.3
He has pledged to treat Proposition 98 as a floor, not a ceiling, and to secure stable school funding.4 He criticized the governor's decision to withhold some Proposition 98 funding.5 He supports better pay, benefits, training pipelines and affordable housing for educators.6 He opposes making SAT or ACT scores a UC admissions requirement, arguing that universities should teach incoming students foundational math if needed.7 He promises to enforce civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ and immigrant students.4
Campaign money
- Reporting period
- July 1 to September 19, 2026
- Raised
- $348,352
- Cash on hand
- $198,874
| Source | Amount | Share of money raised |
|---|---|---|
| Small gifts (under $100) | $2,093 | 1% |
| Gifts from people ($100 or more) | $58,308 | 17% |
| PACs and other committees | $267,100 | 77% |
| Party committees | $9,061 | 3% |
| Businesses and other groups | $11,790 | 3% |
Large contributions reported since September 19, 2026: $97,075 in 19 gifts. See the large contribution reports.
Endorsements
Sources
- Richard Barrera - San Diego Unified School District, San Diego Unified School District. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Why I am Running — Richard Barrera, Richard Barrera campaign. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Your guide to California's superintendent of public instruction race, The Sacramento Bee. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Richard Barrera — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Questionnaire, GrowSF. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Richard Barrera, California superintendent of public instruction candidate, 2026 election questionnaire, Orange County Register. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Richard Barrera, candidate for superintendent of public instruction, answers Bay Area News Group's primary questionnaire, Bay Area News Group (Mercury News). Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Richard Barrera opposes SAT return as UC math readiness concerns grow, Fox News. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- California Democratic Party Announces Endorsements for Statewide, Congressional and State Legislature Candidates, California Democratic Party. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsements - Richard Barrera, Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction 2026. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- News releases - Richard Barrera, Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction 2026. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- CFT Endorses Richard Barrera for Superintendent of Public Instruction, CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsement of Richard Barrera, Administrators Association Sweetwater Union (American Federation of School Administrators). Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- California superintendent of public instruction: Who's running and why it matters, LAist. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- They used to battle in CA elections. Now, they back the same candidate, CalMatters. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsement: This outcomes-driven progressive should be California's superintendent of public instruction, San Francisco Chronicle. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Endorsement Cheat Sheet: Mercury News and East Bay Times Editorial Boards' top picks for California's Nov. 3 general election, East Bay Times. Viewed Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- 2026 Candidate Recommendations, California Teachers Association. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- The Knock LA Progressive Voter Guide for the November 2026 General Election, Knock LA (Ground Game LA). Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- November 2026 LA Progressive Voter Guide, LA Forward Action Fund. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- 2026 Midterm Election: LA County Federation of Labor Endorsements (Official Voter Guide), Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- SEIU 721 COPE Slate, November 3, 2026 General Election, SEIU Local 721. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- UTLA 2026 Endorsements, United Teachers Los Angeles. Viewed Thursday, October 15, 2026.