How much money have state 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.

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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.

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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. 

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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

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