How much money have California superintendent candidates raised?

As voting begins in California’s primary races, candidates for the state superintendent of public instruction have reported raising a combined $2.9 million as of the latest filing deadline. Despite a crowded field of 10 candidates, fundraising trails the $3.6 million raised during the 2018 primary, when four candidates competed in a race heavily shaped by debates over charter schools. This year, no single issue has emerged as the driving force during the primary.

$2.9million

total money raised for the 2026 State Superintendent of Public Instruction race, as of April 18.

Eight superintendent candidates on the June primary ballot who filed their campaign finance forms electronically raised a combined $1.44 million in cash donations as of the April 18 filing deadline. They also reported a combined amount of about $42,000 in nonmonetary donations, such as office space, printing or volunteer labor, donated to a campaign instead of cash, as well as $20,000 in loans (Richard Barrera).

Three candidates rolled over money from previous campaigns for a total of $1.45 million. Al Muratsuchi transferred about $352,000 from his 2024 state Assembly campaign. Sonja Shaw moved $4,100 from her previous campaign and Anthony Rendon rolled over around $1.1 million from his prior 2026 campaign for state treasurer.

$1.44million

total monetary donations to the 2026 State Superintendent of Public Instruction race.

.errordiv { padding:10px; margin:10px; border: 1px solid #555555;color: #000000;background-color: #f8f8f8; width:500px; }#advanced_iframe {visibility:visible;opacity:1;vertical-align:top;}.ai-info-bottom-iframe { position: fixed; z-index: 10000; bottom:0; left: 0; margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%; background-color: #ff9999; padding-left: 5px;padding-bottom: 5px; border-top: 1px solid #aaa } a.ai-bold {font-weight: bold;}#ai-layer-div-advanced_iframe p {height:100%;margin:0;padding:0}var ai_iframe_width_advanced_iframe = 0;var ai_iframe_height_advanced_iframe = 0;function aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe(event) { aiProcessMessage(event,”advanced_iframe”, “true”);}if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener(“message”, aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe);} else if (el.attachEvent) { el.attachEvent(“message”, aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe);}var aiOnloadScrollTop=”true”;var aiShowDebug=false;
if (typeof aiReadyCallbacks === ‘undefined’) {
var aiReadyCallbacks = [];
} else if (!(aiReadyCallbacks instanceof Array)) {
var aiReadyCallbacks = [];
} function aiShowIframeId(id_iframe) { jQuery(“#”+id_iframe).css(“visibility”, “visible”); } function aiResizeIframeHeight(height) { aiResizeIframeHeight(height,advanced_iframe); } function aiResizeIframeHeightId(height,width,id) {aiResizeIframeHeightById(id,height);}var ifrm_advanced_iframe = document.getElementById(“advanced_iframe”);var hiddenTabsDoneadvanced_iframe = false;
function resizeCallbackadvanced_iframe() {}

1,497

Total number of cash donations including from individuals and organizations to State Superintendent candidates.

Sonja Shaw has a commanding lead in the number of individual donors, including from both individuals and organizations. A large number of cash donors can be a sign of grassroots enthusiasm or an intense but narrow base of support.

.errordiv { padding:10px; margin:10px; border: 1px solid #555555;color: #000000;background-color: #f8f8f8; width:500px; }#advanced_iframe_2 {visibility:visible;opacity:1;vertical-align:top;}.ai-info-bottom-iframe { position: fixed; z-index: 10000; bottom:0; left: 0; margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%; background-color: #ff9999; padding-left: 5px;padding-bottom: 5px; border-top: 1px solid #aaa } a.ai-bold {font-weight: bold;}#ai-layer-div-advanced_iframe_2 p {height:100%;margin:0;padding:0}var ai_iframe_width_advanced_iframe_2 = 0;var ai_iframe_height_advanced_iframe_2 = 0;function aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe_2(event) { aiProcessMessage(event,”advanced_iframe_2″, “true”);}if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener(“message”, aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe_2);} else if (el.attachEvent) { el.attachEvent(“message”, aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe_2);}var aiOnloadScrollTop=”true”;var aiShowDebug=false;
if (typeof aiReadyCallbacks === ‘undefined’) {
var aiReadyCallbacks = [];
} else if (!(aiReadyCallbacks instanceof Array)) {
var aiReadyCallbacks = [];
} function aiShowIframeId(id_iframe) { jQuery(“#”+id_iframe).css(“visibility”, “visible”); } function aiResizeIframeHeight(height) { aiResizeIframeHeight(height,advanced_iframe_2); } function aiResizeIframeHeightId(height,width,id) {aiResizeIframeHeightById(id,height);}var ifrm_advanced_iframe_2 = document.getElementById(“advanced_iframe_2”);var hiddenTabsDoneadvanced_iframe_2 = false;
function resizeCallbackadvanced_iframe_2() {}

46

Number of individuals and groups who donated the legal maximum to a State Superintendent candidate.

The maximum monetary contribution to a statewide candidate in California is $9,800 for an individual or $19,600 for a “Small Contributor Committee,” which in this race are mostly labor union PACs or political funds. 

.errordiv { padding:10px; margin:10px; border: 1px solid #555555;color: #000000;background-color: #f8f8f8; width:500px; }#advanced_iframe_3 {visibility:visible;opacity:1;vertical-align:top;}.ai-info-bottom-iframe { position: fixed; z-index: 10000; bottom:0; left: 0; margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%; background-color: #ff9999; padding-left: 5px;padding-bottom: 5px; border-top: 1px solid #aaa } a.ai-bold {font-weight: bold;}#ai-layer-div-advanced_iframe_3 p {height:100%;margin:0;padding:0}var ai_iframe_width_advanced_iframe_3 = 0;var ai_iframe_height_advanced_iframe_3 = 0;function aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe_3(event) { aiProcessMessage(event,”advanced_iframe_3″, “true”);}if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener(“message”, aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe_3);} else if (el.attachEvent) { el.attachEvent(“message”, aiReceiveMessageadvanced_iframe_3);}var aiOnloadScrollTop=”true”;var aiShowDebug=false;
if (typeof aiReadyCallbacks === ‘undefined’) {
var aiReadyCallbacks = [];
} else if (!(aiReadyCallbacks instanceof Array)) {
var aiReadyCallbacks = [];
} function aiShowIframeId(id_iframe) { jQuery(“#”+id_iframe).css(“visibility”, “visible”); } function aiResizeIframeHeight(height) { aiResizeIframeHeight(height,advanced_iframe_3); } function aiResizeIframeHeightId(height,width,id) {aiResizeIframeHeightById(id,height);}var ifrm_advanced_iframe_3 = document.getElementById(“advanced_iframe_3”);var hiddenTabsDoneadvanced_iframe_3 = false;
function resizeCallbackadvanced_iframe_3() {}

Note: Wendy Castaneda Leal and Ainye Long did not file electronically, so their fundraising totals were unavailable.

Related Reading

California superintendent race: How much have candidates raised heading into 2026?

March 23, 2026

The race for California state superintendent is wide open: Poll

April 15, 2026

EdSource is dedicated to covering in California and nationally. Other publications may republish EdSource articles, online or in print, at no charge, provided adherence to our guidelines. The embed code provided here includes a tracking pixel to enable us to measure the reach of our stories. It must be included in any online pickup of EdSource stories.

The following guidelines apply to all EdSource content, including stories, podcasts and video:

Editing stories: Trimming stories for length or adding additional localized reporting is allowed. However, if you wish to make material edits, please contact EdSource for approval prior to publication. Please reach out to Andrew and Smita at republish@edsource.org with questions.

Crediting EdSource: Authors and EdSource should be credited in the byline with a link back to the original article. (This is in the embed code. Please be sure to include it.)

Monetization: EdSource stories cannot be sold, but it’s OK to put EdSource articles on pages with ads.

Photos and graphics: Assets such as photos and graphics must be added manually. Photos taken by EdSource staff may be republished, but some images, such as those from third-party providers (Associated Press, iStock), may not be republished without permission or payment. Proceed with caution. You may also run your own photos with the EdSource story. On occasion, EdSource editors may be able to provide partners with embed codes for graphics or localized data. If you have questions, please contact us.

RSS Feeds: News organizations cannot systematically republish all EdSource articles via RSS feed or other mechanism.